812 
SCOLOPAX EUSTICULA. 
fine, and sharp sort of whistle, which, when one is accustomed to it, may be heard at a considerable distance. 
This note clearly appears to be one by which the betrothed invite each other to pairing ; for the bird seems 
to pay very little attention to the orrt, but always listens and looks about it as soon as it hears the pisp. When 
two Woodcocks whilst roding meet, or come into near proximity, they chase each other ; and whilst casting 
themselves with the rapidity of lightning amongst the trees and bushes, even to the very ground, they give 
quick and hurried utterance to their finer note pisp.” 
The line of country over which the Woodcock rfides is termed the drag in Swedish ; and by taking up a 
favourable position in one of these drags numbers of birds are shot by Scandinavian sportsmen. AVhen the 
weather is raw and cold, Avith a drizzling rain, the AVoodcock is said by Mr. Ekstrom to rode best; and con- 
cerning the above mode of killing them he writes : — “ During the first days of spring the Woodcock commences 
roding the instant the sun has sunk below the horizon, but at a more advanced period somewhat before its 
total disappearance, and continues until nightfall. In the morning it begins roding whilst still quite dark, 
and ceases previous to its being full daylight. When the bird rbdes there is always an interval between each 
tour and retour, Avhicli is more observable in the evening, when it goes and returns three times. The first 
time it always flies high, and generally with rapidity; the second, its flight is but little above the tree-tops, 
and commonly slower; the third time still nearer the ground, and yet more leisurely ; but it is then, especially 
in early spring, too dark to take proper aim. One ought, therefore, always to fire Avhen it makes its 
appearance for the second time.” 
The migration of the AVoodcock takes place at night ; and Selby noticed that most birds arrive in misty 
calm nights, a fact which subsequent observation is said fully to bear out. 
Nidification. — This bird breeds only in the Himalayas within the Indian limits. It has been observed 
“ roding ” in Sikliim ; and my late friend, Mr. A. Anderson, found its nest in the upper valleys of Kumaon 
at an elevation of about 10,000 feet, and was fortunate enough to secure the eggs, almost the only specimens 
ever preserved in India. From his interesting notes on the occurrence, contained in ‘ Stray Feathers/ 1875, 
I transcribe the following passage : — “ We were following up a huge wounded Presbytes schistaceus through 
a dense undergrowth of Eingalls when a Woodcock rose close to us, dropping again almost immediately and 
disappearing in the cover. A diligent search revealed the long looked-for prize, four eggs, which vvere deposited 
in a slight depression in the damp soil, and imbedded amongst a lot of wet leaves, the thin ends pointing 
inwards and downwards into the ground. The eggs found (I could see they were hard-set) I told Triphook 
I had no intention of leaving the place without bagging the bird. It was raining heavily and bitterly cold, 
with the thermometer doAvn to 40°; but fortunately for us, before we had time to make ourselves comfortable 
under an adjoining tree, the bird flew back in a sort of semicircle, alighted, and ran on to her nest. No 
sooner down than she was off again, frightened, as I subsequently learnt, at one of our dogs, but which, at first 
thought, alarmed me not a little, as I thought she was removing her eggs.” After alluding to the shooting 
of the bird by Dr. Triphook, he describes the eggs, which are stated to be “ darker and redder than the usual 
run of Woodcock’s eggs, all four resembling the second figure in HeAfitson’s work, and in the character of 
their markings not unlike richly coloured specimens of Tern’s eggs.” 
The nest is often placed near the foot of a tree, and sometimes among brackens, the dried fronds of 
which are used to line the depression in the soil which the bird scrapes ; it is not usually concealed with any 
care unless it is placed in woods containing heather, when it is said to be difficult to find. Nidification in 
England and Europe is commenced in April and continued through May. The eggs are almost always four 
in number, and differ from those of its family in their round shape. In a small series from England and Sweden, 
for the examination of which I am indebted to Mr. Seebohm, the ground-colour varies from stony white to 
buff stone-colour ; they are broad ovals in shape, gome more pointed than others at the small end. The 
markings consist of rather large and small blotches of reddish brown, openly scattered over the surface, but 
chiefly collected round the large end, and under which lie blots of pale bluish grey. In one egg the markings 
are smaller and thicker. Two Swedish eggs measure D68 by 132 inch and 1 '68 by D3; and one from 
Sherwood Forest F75 by l , 34inch. 
It is well known that the Woodcock carries its young from the nest to the feeding-grounds, and it 
has been thought by some that in order to accomplish this it grasps them in its feet. It is easy, however. 
