272 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



absurd. It might just as reasonably be argued 

 that a fox utilizes his brush to jump with, because 

 he trails it on the ground when hard pressed. 



It is a peculiarity of snipe that when they rise 

 out of shot they very frequently return to the same 

 spot ; it is, therefore, well to watch the flight of a 

 bird under such circumstances. It will be observed 

 to soar high in the air, and at times well-nigh 

 disappear, describing a circuitous course, and 

 probably repeating the same line of flight two or 

 three times, eventually dropping on, or near to, 

 the very spot from which it rose. 



Although I am unable to remember my first 

 partridge, the memory of my first woodcock is 

 indelibly impressed on my mind. I was at the 

 time a mere boy, and on a visit to a friend 

 in Cumberland, who owned some of the best 

 shooting I have ever known fine, wild, rough 

 country, and well, though not too heavily, stocked 

 with nearly every description of game, my host 

 being one of the most generous and kindly- 

 hearted of men, a rare good sportsman to boot, 

 and never grudging to give up the best place, 

 even to a youngster like myself, who was but little 

 likely to do much execution. I had been placed 

 at a forward angle of a warm -lying covert, and 

 before I had waited many minutes the cry of 

 6 Mark cock !' reached me : a shadow over the 

 sunlit pasture behind me, and almost before I 

 descried a woodcock flash past me and disappear 

 amongst the fir-trees, I had recklessly emptied my 



