WOODCOCK. 281 



and Mr. Knox* deprecate altogether the assertion of 

 some authors that this is mainly caused by their eggs 

 being extensively taken in Sweden for edible purposes, 

 (like those of the lapwing in England), the scarcity being 

 attributed by Mr. Knox to an undue slaughter, not in 

 the north but in the south of Europe. In support of this 

 view he instances the enormous bags made, chiefly by 

 British sportsmen, on the shores of the Mediterranean 

 and of the Adriatic, giving as the grand total of six 

 days' shooting in the winter of 1844-5 at Butrinto and 

 on the Acheron and Achelous rivers the prodigious 

 quantity of one thousand and twenty-six woodcocks 

 killed. On the other hand, we must remember that 

 shooting birds in winter does not appreciably affect the 

 stock that is left. All that such shooting does is to 

 consume the annual increase of the species for the year. 

 Some more valid cause must, therefore, be assigned for 

 the decrease of woodcocks in England, if decrease there 

 really be. That cause is not far to seek. In Sweden 

 and Norway a practice much more destructive than 

 egging obta'ins that of shooting the birds immediately 

 on their arrival in those countries, and throughout the 

 breeding season, from the end of April till the middle of 

 June. At that time of the year it is, unfortunately, the 

 habit of the woodcock, evening after evening, to fly 

 backwards and forwards over the same spot, and this in 

 the bright summer twilight of those northern countries. 

 Particular places are thus haunted by many birds, which 

 further, by a most peculiar note, uttered on the wing, 

 attract attention to the spot. Consequently the so-called 

 " sportsmen" of the district repair to such a place, and 

 the flight of the birds being then very steady, though 

 extremely swift, many fall victims to this atrocious 



* Lloyd's " Northern Field Sports " and Knox's " Game Birds 

 and Wild Fowl." 

 2o 



