152 COCK SHOOTING. 



sportsman finding it necessary to leave the country 

 during the shooting season, on any business, the 

 precise time for which might be at his own option, I 

 should advise him to choose this, the middle month, 

 for laying aside his gun. 



COCK SHOOTING. 



THE pursuit of woodcocks, with good spaniels, 

 may be termed the fox-hunting of shooting! 



A real good sportsman feels more gratified by kill- 

 ing a woodcock, or even a few snipes, than bags full 

 of game, that have been reared on his own or neigh- 

 bour's estate ; and one who does not, may be con- 

 sidered a pot hunter. In a country where cocks are 

 scarce, be sure to put a marker in a tree, before you 

 attempt to flush one a second time ; and when you 

 have marked down a cock, remember how very apt 

 he is to run, instead of rising from the spot in which 

 you may have seen him drop. If a cock flies away, 

 and continues to rise wild, go safely beyond where 

 he may have last dropped, and then back again to 

 beat for him (leaving some one to make a noise on 

 the side where you had before advanced on him), and 

 he will then most likely either lie close, or fly towards 

 you. If this will not do, take your station quietly to 

 windward (as cocks generally fly against the wind), 

 give a whistle when you are ready, and let the other 

 person then draw on, and flush him. His cry of 

 " Mark !" will assist in frightening and driving 



