206 THE LARK-TIN:. 



posed ; for in its endeavours to avoid the shot, I have 

 sometimes seen it ascend obliquely upwards. If tin- sporN- 

 man be provided with a percussion gun, this inanu-uvre 

 will not avail it at all times. But the Woodcock ha*. 

 other wiles. If, for instance, it has been previously 

 persecuted, it always keeps a good look-out, and takes 

 another course; and should the man have stationed him- 

 self in an open spot, and neglected to conceal his person, 

 it will frequently wheel about suddenly and return by the 

 way it came. A large proportion of the innumerable 

 misses at the ' Drag ' originate from the Jiigare not 

 having acquired the knack a rather difficult one of 

 taking a rapid aim in the dusk of the evening. 



"To avoid firing at too long a range," says Kkstrom, 

 in conclusion, " I was accustomed in my youth, and before 

 practice rendered the expedient needless, to repair to the 

 ' Drag ' whilst it was full daylight, and pace the distance 

 to some of the trees in the vicinity ; and when the birds 

 made their appearance, was thus pretty well enabled to 

 judge whether or not it was worth while to lire." 



The fowler, when at the "Drag," I should observe, 

 is often provided with a so-called Za/7.-/>//>", or Lark-pipe ; 

 and when the "\Voodcock is Hying over his head, he, by 

 imitating its call-note \\ ith this implement, so attracts its 

 attention as often to cause it to stay its course for a second 

 or two, and to hover, as it were, over his head, in which 

 position the greatest bungler can hardly fail to hit it. 

 The Lark-pipe is also often brought into requisition 

 by the fowler in the autumn, when the brood has been 

 Hushed and dispersed. 



The AV///M-/-////, or poacher, has another expedient, we 

 arc told, to beguile the poor Woodcock. lie hides him- 

 -elf at the ' DraLT," and when the bird is immediately in 

 front of him. he easts his cap high in air; on which the 

 \V H.dcock, supposing the cap to be its mortal enemy the 



