. The game birds and wild fowl of Sweden and Norway; with an account of the seals and salt-water fishes of those countries .. . ly hatched about the end of Count Corfitz Beckfriis informs us, indeed, that, in theprovince of Sodermanland, a young Woodcock was takenon the 11th of May, so well grown as already to haveblood-feathers in its wings. Thoiigh it has been con-fidently stated to the contrary, it is now, I believe, prettywell ascertained that the Woodcock only breeds oncewithin the year. The mother, as with the Partridge and some other birds,is very careful of her nest and young.
. The game birds and wild fowl of Sweden and Norway; with an account of the seals and salt-water fishes of those countries .. . ly hatched about the end of Count Corfitz Beckfriis informs us, indeed, that, in theprovince of Sodermanland, a young Woodcock was takenon the 11th of May, so well grown as already to haveblood-feathers in its wings. Thoiigh it has been con-fidently stated to the contrary, it is now, I believe, prettywell ascertained that the Woodcock only breeds oncewithin the year. The mother, as with the Partridge and some other birds,is very careful of her nest and young. When a dog orother animal approaches them, she conducts herself insucli a manner as to lead him to suppose that she iswounded, and unable to make her escape from either runs to and fro before him with expanded tailand drooping wings, or she flies almost in his face, withher head and legs hanging downwards, until such timesas she has succeeded in luring him to a distance from her o 194 WOODCOCK CARRYING HER YOUNG. offspring, wlion she very quickly gives him to understandthat she has the free use of all her WOODCOCK CAUBVING UKK YOUN<i. When her progeny are in danger, she, moreover, notiinfrequeritly removes them in the manner shown above,to a place of safety. Once during a hare-hunt, writesmy friend M. Anders Otcrdahl, I myself shot a Wood-cock, flushed by the dogs, and when flying at about sixfeet from the ground, that was bearing an unfledgedyoving one in her claws. It seemed to me she grasped itwitli her feet, one foot having hold of one wing andthe other foot of the other. Though, owing to interveningbranches, I did not observe the old bird when she rose, Iwas fortunately so near to her as clearly to see what Ihave stated. Afterwards I found two other young onesunder a neighbouring bush, where they had retreated forsafety. When the al)0ve story appeared in my former work. MATERNAL AFFECTION. 195 • Scandinavian Aclventuies, it was looked on by manyboth
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