The Woodcock 241 



are ill-fitted to penetrate frost-bound ground, and food, 

 water, and shelter are indispensable for their existence. 



Annually increasing numbers breed in the British Isles, 

 and the growing popularity of covert-shooting has pro- 

 vided them with extensive plantations in all parts of the 

 country where they may carry out their nesting operations 

 undisturbed. The partiality of the species for young 

 woods composed of larch and Scotch fir is well known, 

 and the presence of a flight of 'cock lends an additional 

 charm to a day in the coverts when longtails and long- 

 bills may both be expected. 



Home-bred birds generally leave the coverts in which 

 they were reared at an early date, and one would almost 

 credit them with a knowledge that the close time expired 

 on the first of August. The fact is, however, that the 

 woodcock resents disturbance, and in the islands on the 

 west coast of Scotland it is commonly supposed that a 

 longbill which has once heard the whistle of the lead takes 

 its departure on the following night. Certain it is that in 

 this locality no beat should be worked twice on consecu- 

 tive days under ordinary circumstances, and that at least 

 three days should be allowed before it is shot over again. 

 During severe weather, when the big flights arrive, this 

 rule is hardly applicable, for fresh birds cross the narrow 

 sea night after night, and take the places of those which 

 have gone. 



Sometimes, the first arrivals appear early in October, 

 but only if driven from their northern haunts by stress of 

 weather. These migrants arrive in an exhausted con- 

 dition, especially if a change of wind has rendered their 

 progress more laborious. A moonlight night is generally 

 chosen for the crossing, with a strong wind blowing from 

 the north-east to help them on their way. As a rule, the 

 main flights appear on the east coast at the end of the last 

 month, in autumn and during the course of November, 

 though a few stray parties may turn up any time before 

 the end of January. After a short rest, varying in length 

 according to the feed obtained in the place where the 

 flight has pitched, they split up into small parties and 

 scatter over the mainland till the advance of winter 



