THE PURSUIT OF THE WOODCOCK. 317 
cock, gave it its liberty, after fastening a copper ring toits leg. The 
following year he recognised, by the help of this mark, the bird 
which had formerly been his captive. 
During ten months of the year the Woodcock is mute ; but when the 
early leaves begin to bud it is gifted with a feeble call—fi/t-pett-corr / 
The plumage of the Woodcock is remarkable for the harmony 
of its shades; it is a happy mixture of brown, russet, grey, black, 
and white. It is not an unusual thing to meet with Woodcocks en- 
tirely of the latter—a/dines of their kind. Others are arrayed in an 
Isabelle-coloured plumage; but white, with grey or brown mottlings, 
are their principal peculiarities. 
The Woodcock is very clean in its habits; for it invariably plumes 
and dresses its feathers twice a day. At morning and evening they 
can be seen wending their course in rapid flight towards rivulets 
or springs to bore for insects, quench their thirst, or to arrange their 
toilette. 
This Bird is found in almost all the departments of France, but 
principally in the Ain and the Istre. We need hardly say that they are 
sought after with an eagerness that no obstacle seems to discourage. 
One can scarcely imagine the pitch of enthusiasm some of our sports- 
men possess for pursuit of the Woodcock. They will walk for ten or 
twelve hours in the mud, leave shreds of their garments hanging on 
every bush and brambie they pass, exercise all their ingenuity in 
manceuvring and cunning, and, as a recompense for all these exer- 
tions, perhaps not get a shot. This is a short compendium of the 
results often enjoyed by the sportsman when in pursuit of Woodcock. 
The chief difficulty in obtaining these birds is caused by the 
swampy densely wooded places they frequent. Motionless and mute 
when secreted in the thickest bushes, they emit but little scent. The 
dog, which ranges about in every direction, scratched and torn by 
thorns and briars, disheartened with such laborious and unprofitable 
work, discovers at last the slightest taint on the air, and “ draws.” 
As soon as the sportsman sees or knows that his dog is “ pointing,” 
he advances quietly, and, judging as well as he can of the locality 
of the bird, places himself in the best position to obtain a shot. 
(PLatE X.) If he misses his aim, all his labour has been for nothing, 
even should the sportsman be successful in marking where the game 
las alighted, the same trouble has to be repeated. If ultimately the 
Woodcock succumbs, it will not be till it has thoroughly fatigued its 
persecutors.* 
__ * From the above description of Woodcock shooting it is evident the author 
is not an enthusiastic sportsman.— Ep, 
