Ii52 THE WOODCOCK. 



all disappear in the latter part of December. In that quar 

 ter of the Union they are scarcely in order for shooting 

 before the latter end of July, or beginning of August ; but 

 from this time to their departure, they continue in good 

 condition for the table. 



The springes or springers, set for Woodcocks in Europe, 

 in places they are found to frequent by the evidence of their 

 borings, &c., are commonly formed of an elastic stick, to 

 which is fastened a horse-hair noose, put through a hole in 

 a peg, fastened into the ground, to which a trigger is an- 

 nexed : and, in order to compel the "Woodcock to walk into 

 the trap, an extended fence is made on each side, by small 

 sticks, set up close enough to prevent the bird passing 

 between them; these concentrate at the trap, so *hat In 

 uhis funnel-shaped fence, the bird, in feeding, is made to 

 pass through the narrow passage, and is almost to a cer ■ 

 fainty caught by the legs. 



As the season advances, and food begins to fail, by reason 

 of inclement and cold weather, the Woodcocks leave the 

 interior ; and approaching the shelter of the sea-coast and 

 the neighbouring marshes, they now become abundant, and 

 are, at such times, late in autumn, killed in great numbers 

 These are also their assembling points previous to their 

 louthem migrations, which are performed in a desultory 

 and irregular manner, their motions, as usual, being mostly 

 nocturnal, or in the twilight ; and though many are now 

 met with in the same low meadows and marshes^ they are 



