192 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



vicinity, and had beat the very ground on which I have subse- 

 quently killed hundreds, without getting above half-a dozen 

 shots. 



It is in the last week of July, or the first of August, that tliis 

 disappearance of the Cock, whether from the hill-swales, the 

 larger valleys, or the level meadows, takes place ; and after 

 this until the first week in October, it is useless to hunt for 

 them. A few birds can, it is true, at all times be procured, 

 enough to furnish a dainty for a sick friend, or perhaps at a 

 hard pinch to try a dog ; but certainly not enough to render it 

 agreeable, or worth the while to go out in pursuit of them. 

 Another fact, going to prove that there is an absolute disap- 

 pearance or emigration of the bird, at fhis season, is that on 

 their return, they come in successive flights, tarrying each a 

 longer or shorter time, according to the circumstances of the 

 weather, and then passing onward. This is, I think, conclusive. 



When first I began to sport in this country, some sixteen 

 years ago, there were two theories current among sportsmen, 

 whereby to account for the fact, that in woods, where the birds 

 swarmed in July, they were hardly to be found in August. 

 Both theories, as I have proved to my own satisfaction, are 

 untenable and groundless. 



The first was this — " That the bird did not in truth, disappear 

 at all, but remained on his old ground ; though, owing to the 

 fact of his being in moult, he gave out no scent whereby the 

 dog could detect him ; and from sickness, or inability to fly 

 with his wonted velocity, refused to rise before the tread of his 

 intruding enemy, the man." 



This theory is answered in a word. The Woodcock, while 

 in moult, does give out as much scent, is pointed aS readily by 

 dogs, does rise as willingly before the point, and is as good 

 upon the table as at any other season. Facts, which are easily 

 proved ; siiice, although the great mass of birds withdraw 

 during August, and do not return before October, a few do still 

 tarry in their old swamps, and may be found and shot, though 

 so few in number, and at so great an expense of time and 



