ekstrom's desckiptiox. 205 



" During the first days of spring, the AVoodcock com- 

 mences ' roding ' the instant the sun has sunk helow the 

 horizon, hut at a more advanced period somewhat hefore 

 its total disappearance, and continues until night-fall. In 

 the morning, it begins ' roding ' whilst still quite dark, 

 and ceases previous to its being full daylight. When the 

 bird ' rddes,' there is always an interval between each totir 

 and retoitr, which is more observable in the evening, when 

 it goes and returns three several times. The first time it 

 always flies high, and generally with rapidity ; the second, 

 its flight is but little above the tree-tops, and com- 

 monly slower ; the third time still nearer the ground, 

 and yet more leisurely ; but it is then — especially in early 

 spring — too dark to take proper aim. One ought, there- 

 fore, always to fire when it makes its appearance for 

 the second time. 



" In the morning no one attempts thus to shoot the 

 Woodcock. It ' rodes' at so early an hour that it is diffi- 

 cult to distinguish the bird, and more so to take correct 

 aim. Its ' rodings ' then last so short a time, besides, 

 that when it becomes light enough to shoot they are over. 

 Probably tlie female then lays her eggs, and the male, 

 knowing this to be the case, puts off all thoughts of love 

 until the proper season — the evening. 



"Though the Woodcock when on the wing," 

 Ekstrom goes on to say, " seems in no hurry, yet 

 its flight is very rapid, and it is not the easiest bird to 

 shoot. Occasionally, indeed, it makes the inexperienced 

 sportsman look very foolish ; for when he has fired, it 

 drops nearly to the ground, thus making him believe it to 

 be killed ; but presently recovering from its panic, it rises 

 again in the air, and makes known by its Orrl ! orrt ! 

 ivf^p ! that it has escaped with a whole skin. A flash 

 in the pan invariably causes the bird to diverge from its 

 course, though not always downwards, as is generally sup- 



