286 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



then over, with the exception of a few couples chiefly 

 shot by the gamekeepers, their brief rest in our coverts 

 is but little disturbed. Considering, however, that at 

 this time they are no longer a delicacy for the table, 

 their flesh being dry and flavourless, and that every 

 year proves them more and more inclined to remain 

 with us to breed, it is greatly to be regretted that both 

 woodcock and snipe should not be included in the list of 

 game, protected from further persecution after the 2nd 

 of February. For several years past I have invariably 

 seen one or more woodcocks hanging for sale in the 

 Norwich fishmarket during the first and second week 

 in April, birds which, there is no doubt, would have 

 bred in this county, if indeed they had not already 

 either eggs or young. Mr. Anthony Hamond, jun., 

 the master of the West Norfolk Foxhounds, also assures 

 me that during his last week's hunting, at the end of 

 March, 1869, he saw some twenty or thirty woodcocks 

 in different coverts nearly always in pairs, whilst at 

 that time of year he has 'seen them sitting on their 

 eggs in the North-west of Scotland.* 



Here, too, may be remarked that amongst the many 

 strange incidents connected with the history of this 

 species, is the fact that although as migrants their 

 numbers have greatly diminished, yet the tendency to 

 remain and breed in this country seems as much on 

 the increase. That this is attributable in a great 

 degree to the extensive system of planting adopted of 

 late years, both here and in Scotland, more particularly 

 of larch, spruce, and other firs, seems generally ad- 

 mitted^ yet from a few records remaining of wood- 



* Mr. St. John ("Wild Sports in the Highlands," p, 220), states 

 that he had three eggs brought him on the 9th of March, 1846 : 

 and a nearly full grown young one in the second week of April, 

 1844. 



f Mr. Hewitson ("Eggs of British Birds," vol. ii., 3rd ed., 



