4 SCOLOPACID^E. 



time of the males and females in the Woodcock or Wood- 

 snipe, as it is sometimes called, accounts for the result 

 which occurs at the early part of the Woodcock season. 

 On making internal examination of twelve Woodcocks, 

 from one locality, for the purpose of ascertaining the sex, 

 for my use in this work, only two of them proved to be 

 males. 



So abundant are WoodcScks occasionally in our eastern 

 counties, that there were killed at Lord Hasting's, Melton 

 Constable, Norfolk, in November, 1852, 160 Woodcocks 

 in three successive days, namely, 90 on the first day, 34 

 on the second day, and 36 on the third day. 



Under the influence of a north-east wind, their course is 

 probably between south and west ; this will account for 

 the numbers of Woodcocks found in Devonshire, Cornwall, 

 in Wales, and in Ireland; the birds in many instances 

 pursuing their course till they reach the sea, or returning, 

 if possible, when they have overshot the land. " In Ireland," 

 says the Rev. Mr. Daniel, in his Rural Sports, " the Earl 

 of Claremont shot fifty couple in one day ; but it should 

 be premised that such was the abundance of these birds as 

 to be sold in some parts near Ballyshannon, in the county 

 of Donegal, for one penny each, and the expense of powder 

 and shot." The author of Wild Sports of the West says, 

 " The Woodcock-shooting in the west of Ireland is ac- 

 knowledged to be very superior ; and when the flight has 

 been large, and the season is sufficiently severe to drive the 

 birds well to cover, there is not, to a quick eye, more 

 beautiful shooting in the world. Some of the covers are 

 copses of natural wood, situated in the very centre of the 

 mountains ; consequently, when the snow falls, every 

 Woodcock for miles around deserts the heath, and seeks 

 the nearest shelter. Then will the sportsman be amply 

 repaid for his labour. From a copse of not more than 



