WOODCOCK, 281 
and Mr. Knox* deprecate altogether the assertion of 
some authors that this is mainly caused by their eggs 
being extensively taken in Sweden for edible purposes, 
(like these of the lapwing in England), the scarcity being 
attributed by Mr. Knox to an undue slaughter, not in 
the north but in the south of Europe. In support of this 
view he instances the enormous bags made, chiefly by 
British sportsmen, on the shores of the Mediterranean 
and of the Adriatic, giving as the grand total of six 
days’ shooting in the winter of 1844-5—at Butrinto and 
on the Acheron and Achelous rivers—the prodigious 
quantity of one thousand and twenty-six woodcocks 
killed. On the other hand, we must remember that 
shooting birds in winter does not appreciably affect the 
stock that is left. All that such shooting does is to 
consume the annual increase of the species for the year. 
Some more valid cause must, therefore, be assigned for 
the decrease of woodcocks in England, if decrease there 
really be. That cause is not far to seek. In Sweden 
and Norway a practice much more destructive than 
egging obtains—that of shooting the birds immediately 
on their arrival in those countries, and throughout the 
breeding season, from the end of April till the middle of 
June. At that time of the year it is, unfortunately, the 
habit of the woodcock, evening after evening, to fly 
backwards and forwards over the same spot, and this in 
the bright summer twilight of those northern countries. 
Particular places are thus haunted by many birds, which 
further, by a most peculiar note, uttered on the wing, 
attract attention to the spot. Consequently the so-called 
“sportsmen” of the district repair to such a place, and 
the flight of the birds being then very steady, though 
extremely swift, many fall victims to this atrocious 
* Lloyd’s “Northern Field Sports” and Knox’s “ Game Birds 
and Wild Fowl.” 
20 
