WOODCOCK. 279 



thus affording immediate shelter to these autumnal 

 migrants ; while at the same time a fair sprinkling of 

 cocks may be found, in most seasons, frequenting the 

 moist carrs and thickets of alder, willow, and birch, 

 that fringe the margins of the broads themselves.* But 

 although, as might be expected, the coverts near the 

 coast especially those of Lord Hastings's, at Melton 

 Constable and Swanton Novers, afford the largest bags, 

 these birds are very generally distributed over the 

 county; and around Norwich are found in various 

 localities in close vicinity to the city. 



What proportion the numbers that now visit this 

 county in favourable seasons may bear to the migra- 

 tions of former times, I have no means of ascertaining 

 with any degree of accuracy, although an examination 

 of the game books, so carefully preserved for years on 

 our larger estates, would, I believe, throw much light 

 upon this as well as many other subjects of deep interest 

 to the sportsman and naturalist. In proof of this, I 

 may subjoin the following abstract sent me by Mr. 

 Alfred Newton from the game books kept at Elveden, 

 on the borders of this county. Mean number of wood- 

 cocks killed in the five seasons ending 



February 1st, 1818 9'2 



1823 13-2 



1828 18-4 



1833... . 19-8 



February 1st, 1838 27'6 



1843 26-2 



1848 35-0 



1853 40-2 



Or if we take decennial intervals, we shall find the 

 mean for the ten seasons ending 



1823 to be 11-2 I 1843 to be 26'9 



1833 181 1853 371 



* A year or two back a woodcock was killed on Surlingham 

 Broad, during the day time, from amongst the small bushes on 

 the open marsh. This was considered as an almost unprecedented 

 circumstance in that neighbourhood. 



