174 WOODCOCK. 



be a most abundant locality for both this bird and 

 the snipe. The character of the country would, to 

 a certain extent, account for the latter ; but, even 

 its position, in reference to that in which they are 

 summer residents, does not completely account for 

 the abundance. Fifty couple are recorded as killed 

 by a single gun in one day,* and a range of from ten 

 to thirty is not accounted extraordinary. Natural 

 copse- wood, on the hills and valleys of the moor- 

 lands, are said to be favourite retreats for them; 

 in whin covers they are also found, and we have 

 the word of a keen shot, some time resident in 

 Ireland, that, after a flight, many might be found in 

 the hedges. 



The migration of the Woodcock is nocturnal ; in 

 the partial changes which they make in this country, 

 we know that this is the period selected, and their 

 arrival has been witnessed at early dawn on our 

 coasts, t The Woodcock, also, is one of the birds 

 which are occasionally taken, after having dashed 

 themselves against lighthouses, attracted by the 

 light ; and instances have occurred, where they have 

 alighted on the decks of vessels in the channel. 



The geographical distribution is extensive. Be- 

 sides being generally met with in Great Britain and 

 Ireland, wherever suitable localities occur, it extends 

 occasionally to Orkney and Shetland, but, from the 

 want of shelter there, it continues for no time ; and, 

 as we have seen with various species which range 

 far to the north in the British Islands, still, abroad, 

 * Daniel. f See Y^reJl 



