The Woodcock 233 



So conscious do they seem that their great security lies 

 in concealment that they will remain motionless until a 

 dog is almost on them, or until the beater reaches the very 

 bush under which they are crouching. When at length 

 roused, they start up with a whirr, winding and twisting 

 through the overhanging boughs, and make for the 

 nearest open place ahead ; now, however, flying in almost 

 a straight line, till discovering another convenient lurk- 

 ing place, they descend suddenly, to be " marked" for 

 another shot. 



About twilight the woodcock awakens out of its 

 lethargy, and repairs to its feeding-ground. Observation 

 having shown that on these occasions it does not trouble 

 itself to mount above the trees before it starts, but makes 

 for the nearest clear place, in the wood, through which it 

 gains the open country; fowlers were formerly in the habit 

 of erecting in glades in the woods two high poles, from 

 which was suspended a fine net. This was so placed as 

 to hang across the course which the birds were likely to 

 take, and when a cock flew against it the net was suddenly 

 made to drop by the concealed fowler, and the bird 

 caught, entangled in the meshes. Not many years ago, 

 these nets were commonly employed in the woods, near 

 the coast of the north of Devon, and they are still said 

 to be in use on the Continent. The passages through 

 which the birds flew were known by the name of 

 ' ' cockroads," and " cockshoots." 



The localities which woodcocks most frequent are 

 places which abound in earth worms, their favourite food. 

 When the earth is frozen they repair to the sea. or near 

 springs ; and now probably they are less select in their 

 diet, feeding on any living animal matter that may fall 

 in their way. 



In March they change their quarters again, preparatory 

 to quitting the country ; hence it often happens that con- 

 siderable numbers are seen at this season in places where 

 none had been observed during the previous winter. 

 They now have a call-note, though before they had been 

 quite mute ; it is said by some to resemble the syllables 

 ' ' pitt-pitt-coor," by others to be very like the croak of a 

 frog. 



