THE WOODCOCK COPPICE WOOD. 51 



proved, as we speedily flushed several, but the dogs ranging 

 wild, and the trees being close, I was unfortunate with them. 

 For my own part I alwaj-s prefer the field to the wood. 

 Tour shots are then generally clean ones though fewer* 

 and you can mark your birds better, and not leave a 

 wounded one to die in a hole, as is often the case. 

 Cocks, too, lie most frequently on the edge of a wood, 

 or within a very few yards of it, ready for a flight. I 

 then got out of the wood, leaving my man to beat ; and 

 certainly there were cocks enough, but an evil spirit pos- 

 sessed them, and they would not come near me. But the 

 wood was a picture for woodcock shooting. The coppice- 

 wood was large and unequal ,with here and there a forest tree. 

 Patches of alder and willow told of marsh and bog, and in 

 other parts, hollies and occasional spruce firs of small growth 

 afforded shelter or a promenade ; for your woodcock is a 

 dandy in his way, and likes his promenade. I have often 

 noticed the ground under such a bush quite white with 

 their chalking, and a friend told me that he had once 

 noticed a cock shuffling up and down there, pluming him- 

 self and strutting in evident delight. But I was as un- 

 lucky out of the wood as within it. There were lots of 

 birds but nothing suited ; the good shots were too far, the 

 nearer ones I missed, until I got vexed and commenced 

 blazing away at all rates with no better luck, and at last 

 grew sulky and retired from the place. Getting over the 

 hedge I trod upon a hare. Off" went both barrels, and 

 with no success as I thought. But my bitch thought 

 otherwise and dashed after the hare who disappeared, 

 leaving me to load and wait. Suddenly looking up I saw 



D 2 



