294 WOODCOCK AND SNIPE 



The morning serenade over, he indulges in a lengthy rest, after which, 

 towards the close of the afternoon, he goes through the same 

 performance." 



That there is a considerable variation in the notes of the woodcock 

 at this time seems evident on a comparison of Mr. Shaw's notes with 

 those of the observers already quoted. It may be that the sound 

 varies with the environment ; that is to say, it may acquire a greater 

 volume under certain atmospheric conditions, or when uttered in an 

 open space, or in the vicinity of hills. 



To return for a moment to the "roding," or "reading" as it is 

 sometimes called. Not the least remarkable part of this strange 

 performance is the routine which is observed. At dawn and dusk 

 alike the same ground is traversed, almost, we might say, rhythmically. 

 Commonly the path traversed forms a rough triangle, the sides of 

 which may be a quarter of a mile or more in length. " In England," 

 remarks Professor Newton, " in former times advantage was taken of 

 this habit to catch the simple performer in nets called 'cockshuts,' 

 which were hung between trees, across open glades or rides in 

 a wood." l 



From the phases of courtship we pass to that which concerns the 

 care of the young. This begins with the preparation of the nest and 

 brooding of the eggs. As to the former, enough has been said already 



1 This practice of netting, however, it must be remarked, was not alone employed for the 

 capture of love-sick birds, but was even more extensively employed during the winter months 

 in taking birds as they left the shelter of the woods for their feeding-grounds ; for, as will 

 already have been gathered, these birds are curiously methodical in their habits throughout 

 the year, leaving and entering the woods by regular routes. A little preliminary observation 

 on the part of the snare-setter would soon disclose these routes, and the rest was easy. That 

 this practice is one of hoary antiquity is witnessed by the references thereto in literature. So 

 common was the custom, that the hour of twilight was known as "cockshut time." "The 

 falling of the net," remarks Mr. De Visme Shaw, "shut in the cock; hence the net used for 

 taking the birds became known as a cockshut, and the time of using it as cockshut time.' 

 English literature is full of references to this word. Shakespeare, for instance, writes : 



' ' Thomas, Earl of Surrey, and himself 

 Much about cockshut time went through the army." 



And Ben Jonson has : 



" Mistress, this is only spite 

 For you would not yesternight 

 Kiss him in the cockshut light." 



