NATURE NOTES 
8 
The Migration of Woodcock. — In most of the sporting papers lately 
there have been articles on this subject, and nearly all have stated that woodcock 
never migrate in flocks but always alone. Some of the gentlemen who have 
written are certainly authorities on the point, and I should hesitate to disagree 
with them, but I think, on the other hand, there are a good many exceptions 
from the general rule. Not long ago I was talking on this very subject to a 
gentleman who has been an active sportsman all his life and has seen a lot of 
“ cock ” for some twenty-five years, and he informed me that once he saw a very 
large flock about the usual time of migration coming in over the sea. The flock 
flew' over the Promenade at Penzance and alighted in some marshy ground a 
little distance inland. The birds weie in a very exhausted condition and my 
informant said he could have shot literally dozens. The time of the day was just 
about the evening, but he could clearly distinguish the birds. I know of several 
other instances of flights of woodcock, all of which are clearly authenticated. 
The subject of migration is such a complex one, and we really know so very 
little about it that, I think, at present, at least, no one is in a position to dog- 
matise. Another sporting friend of mine, of considerable experience, says that 
he has seen woodcock when they first arrive walking about his garden at night 
(he used to live in the country in a game district) “ as thick as bees,” where the 
day before there were none. If woodcock do migrate singly, is it not remarkable 
that these numbers should all have come to the same place ? I will conclude 
this note with a short extract from the Hon. Francis Robert’s pamphlet, printed 
in 1703 (whifh I do not, however, quote as an authority) — “ Upon a change of 
wind to the east about Allhallowtide, they (the woodcock) will seem to have 
come all in a night ; for though the former day none are found, yet next morning 
they will be in every bush.” 
Penzance, January], 1901. Arthur W. Hext II.\rvey. 
G-reen Woodpecker. — This bird is very rapidly increasing in this district, 
where years ago I am informed it was rather scarce. During December I was 
frequently out shooting, and on every occasion we saw woodpeckers, and rather 
curiously they were always found in marshy ground with nothing worthy the 
name of a tree within some distance. On several occasions we flushed them from 
the banks of streams surrounded by rushes. I know of an old elm near here in 
which a green w'oodpecker has bred for five or six consecutive years, and on 
every occasion has been successful in hatching its eggs and rearing its young. 
Penzance, January ], 1901. Arthur W. He.xt Harvey. 
Ivy on Trees. — I really hope that you will not allow’ this important subject 
to drop until it has been threshed out, and, I fondly hope, an ancient unfounded 
prejudice abandoned. The beauty of the country lanes in winter depends solely 
on the luxuriant foliage of the ivy, and those w'ho, like your correspondent, 
Mr. Millard, destroy it, have very much to answer for in an aesthetic point of 
view. If ivy injures the tree that supports it, it must be in one of three modes— - 
sucking the sap from the tree to feed itself, depriving the roots of the necessary 
moisture, or strangling the tree by twisting round it. The first Mr. Millard has 
proved to be non-existent, or the beautiful parasite would not have died when he 
ruthlessly cut it : that it is harmless to the roots of the tree is obvious to anyone 
who will examine its own roots — they will be found to descend perpendicularly, 
whilst those of the tree spread far and wide, perhaps to double the extent of the 
branches horizontally. The third charge is equally unfounded, since, excepting, 
po.ssibly, one turn to get to the sunny side, it runs up the tree straight, never 
embracing it. Mr. Millard asks, “ Can any correspondent mention trees that have 
preserved their vigour as well with as without ivy?” If, when in town, he would 
favour me with a visit, half an hour from London, I shall have pleasure in 
showing him a dozen or two old trees, some covered with ivy, some bare, and I 
am certain he will admit that there is no difference in their health or appearance. 
I daresay you have subscribers to Nature Notes living here. Let anyone walk 
along the beautiful lane that divides the “parks,” and he will see hundreds of 
trees, some with, some without ivy on them, and I feel confident that he will 
agree with me that there is no appreciable difference between them. 
Nascott House, Watjord. George Roofer. 
