TVOODCOCKS BREED IX EXGLA^D. ]51 



accustomed to cocks was selected from iT.y dogs, aud 

 we bad made our start. Our party being mjibelf, Ben 

 Lloyd, a good marker, and my old favourite setter. Ou 

 arriving at tbe wood wbere we were to begin operations, 

 Ben sent bis man to percb on a bigb tree, wbere be 

 would bave a good general command of tbe cover, and 

 be able to mark nearly every cock we migbt spring, 

 giving Jack Saddler time to reacb bis station. We com- 

 menced beating tbe cover as quickly as possible, and 

 bad not proceeded above tbirty yards before tbe dog 

 pointed on some bare ground on tbe side of a bill. On 

 my approacbing tbe point tbree cocks rose, but out of 

 sbot, Jack marking tbem on tbe opposite dingle. We 

 arranged to beat our ground on instead of directly 

 following tbe birds we bad flusbed, and in less tban a 

 quarter of an bour we bad anotber point, wben a single 

 cock got up, wild, witbout even a cbance of a snap sbot. 

 Encouraged by seeing tbese cocks I worked bard until 

 four o'clock in tbe afternoon, baving moved eigbteen 

 cocks, but witbout myself or Ben Lloyd obtaining a single 

 sbot. I returned back tired, witb an empty bag, but 

 tborougbly satisfied witb wbat I bad seen. Tbe wind 

 was very cold, and tbe cover ratber bare wbere we 

 moved tbe cocks, but, generally speaking, admirably 

 adapted for woodcocks, being well interspersed witb 

 warm springs. I was neitber surprised nor disappointed 

 to find tbe birds so wild, feeling certain tbat on a future 

 day I sbould bave good sport, baving for tbe last four 

 or five years been in tbe babit of sbooting on a large 

 tract of wild and unpreserved country. I enjoy more 

 seeing my dogs work well, witb an occasional sbot, 

 wbere, wben you approacb tbe point, you know not 

 wbetber it may be partridge, woodcock, grouse, bare, 

 I. 4 



