tTPLAND SHOOTING. 
171 
Now, although the length of time occupied by incubation, is 
not laid down in the books, it cannot exceed eighteen or twenty 
days,—the young birds run the moment they clip the shell ; and 
it is stated by Mr. Audubon, I doubt not, correctly, that at six 
weeks’ old, they are strong and quick on the wing. According 
to this, there should be many birds well on the wing early in 
April ; and from all we know of the growth of these birds, no 
difference being manifest after the August moult between the 
old and young, these should be fully equal to the parents-in size 
on the first of July. 
I have myself no doubt, that the Woodcock regularly breeds 
twice, and sometimes thrice a season, although it is certain that 
young birds of two different sizes, and consequently different 
hatchings, are never found in July with the same parents. 
It occurs to me, but I cannot be sure of the fact, as I only 
speak from vague recollection, that in the few cases where it is 
possible to be assured, that all the birds killed are of one brood, 
—as, for instance, in small hill-swales, and the like, containing 
one resting-place—I have never seen above one old bird with 
the brood. In adverse seasons—the worst of which are those 
which, after a favorable and early spring, become cold and wet 
in May and June,—when the first brood is destroyed by floods, 
the old birds do unquestionably breed a second time, and hatch 
a very late brood, so late as to the middle of July. And of this, 
I think, the following anecdote will be held sufficient proof and 
confirmation. 
This anecdote was published by me some two or three years 
since, in the columns of a leading monthly magazine, in connec¬ 
tion with a number of remarks concerning the habits of the 
Woodcock, on some of which I have since been led to alter my 
opinion. I was, at that time, inclined to believe that the parent 
birds retained several broods of young, of different sizes, about 
them ; but I am satisfied that this view of the case was errone¬ 
ous, and was induced by the accident of two or more broods 
having come in contact, as is perpetually the case on well- 
stocked ground, under the care of only one parent bird each 
