Maternal Instinct in a Woodcock.
A few months ago a woodcock was flushed from a clump of persimmon trees on the border of a "slash." Knowing the bird's habit of rising above a clump of bushes, and then suddenly dropping behind it out of range, the hunter fired as soon as it rose. When the smoke cleared away the bird was seen rising
with a laboured flight, and concluding it was wounded its fall was expected ; but instead, it turned and came nearer. It was seen to be holding something between its feet, which, on closer observation, proved to be a young chicken recently hatched, which was located between the mother's legs and supported by her feet placed on its sides. So slow was the flight that by a brisk trot the observer was able to gain on the bird, which he tried unsuccessfully to tire so jis to compel it to drop its burden.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18830421.2.101
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 1639, 21 April 1883, Page 27
Word Count
155Maternal Instinct in a Woodcock. Otago Witness, Issue 1639, 21 April 1883, Page 27
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