WOODCOCK. 279 
thus affording immediate shelter to these autumnal 
migrants; while at the same time a fair sprinkling of 
cocks may be found, in most seasons, frequenting the 
moist carrs and thickets of alder, willow, and birch, 
that fringe the margins of the broads themselves.* But 
although, as might be expected, the coverts near the 
coast—especially those of Lord Hastings’s, at Melton 
Constable and Swanton Novers, afford the largest bags, 
these birds are very generally distributed over the 
county; and around Norwich are found in various 
localities in close vicinity to the city. 
What proportion the numbers that now visit this 
county in favourable seasons may bear to the migra- 
tions of former times, I have no means of ascertaining 
with any degree of accuracy, although an examination 
of the game books, so carefully preserved for years on 
our larger estates, would, I believe, throw much light 
upon this as well as many other subjects of deep interest 
to the sportsman and naturalist. In proof of this, I 
may subjoin the following abstract sent me by Mr. 
Alfred Newton from the game books kept at Elveden, 
om the borders of this county. Mean number of wood- 
cocks killed in the five seasons ending 
February Ist, 1818...... 9°2 February Ist, 1838...... 27°6 
a 1 hS-5 Eeee 13°2 “3 1843...... 26°2 
A 1828)2..%; 18°4 i 1848...... 35°0 
- 1833...... 19°8 3 1853... 40°2 
Or if we take decennial intervals, we shall find the 
mean for the ten seasons ending 
1823 to be 11:2 1843 to be 26-9 
18350 5 enone 1S0ST S01 
* A year or two back a woodcock was killed on Surlingham 
Broad, during the day time, from amongst the small bushes on 
the open marsh. This was considered as an almost unprecedented 
circumstance in that neighbourhood, 
