86 ON THE WING. 



a good cover and fine feeding. I have known a 

 dozen cocks to be found in one such patch of corn. 

 If you happen to know that woodcock are in the 

 corn, you can often do quite as well without the dog ; 

 and you will here find that good snap-shooting tells 

 wonderfully ! For the birds in their flight just top the 

 tips of the corn, sail along a few feet, just showing 

 their narrow wings, and 'in a moment are gone, find 

 out where, if you can. If you don't kill them at their 

 first flight, and they go outside the corn-piece, they 

 will probably turn to the right or left at the end of the 

 piece, and enter the edge of the corn again ; or perhaps 

 lie in. the grass which makes the headland, but a few 

 feet distant from the end of the corn-rows. It is their 

 nature, when flushed from such ground, to give a 

 flourish and a sudden turn when coming to the end of 

 the corn ; and they will certainly put the sportsman 

 off the track, if he be not well posted in their habits. 



Hunt them thoroughly. They will often let the 

 sportsman pass within a very few feet of them, without 

 flushing. Much depends upon a knowledge of their 

 movements, and in the marking of them down well in 

 their flight. The sportsman who excels in marking 

 down his game will get- many more cock than the 

 one who has no such tact ; for there is much skill and 

 judgment to be used in this particular, not only with 

 woodcock, but with all kinds of game-birds. After 

 having shot at your bird, cast your eye in the direc- 

 tion it went, and watch the next open space. If the 

 bird does not pass, you have good reason to think 

 that you have dropped it. 



