WOODCOCK-SHOOTING 815 



observed to gather her numerous family under her wings 

 without any distinction. Many landrails are able to fly in 

 six or seven weeks after their extrusion from the egg. The 

 food of the landrail consists of worms, slugs, snails, and 

 insects. 



Landrails are considered delicate articles of food, and are 

 in high estimation : their ordinary weight is about six ounces ; 

 but instances have occurred where they have weighed as 

 much as eight ounces and a half 



WOODCOCK-SHOOTITO 



Although woodcocks are not birds protected by the game- 

 laws, they afford the sportsman as much, or perhaps more 

 diversion than any that are objects of their immediate recog- 

 nizance. 



"Woodcocks are birds of passage, and arrive in Great Bri- 

 tain about Michaelmas, and leave this country in March. 

 They breed on the Alps, and other mountainous localities. 

 Sweden, Norway, and Eussia are also their abodes in sum- 

 mer, as well as other northern parts of Europe, as far as 

 Kamtschatka and Iceland, and generally through the old 

 continent and its islands. From the higher northern lati- 

 tudes they usually retire on the beginning of winter, so soon 

 as the frosts commence, which force them into milder 

 climates, where the ground is open and adapted to their 

 manner of feeding. The time of their appearance and dis- 

 appearance in Sweden coincides exactly with that of their 

 arrival in and their retreat from Great Britain. Their au- 

 tumnal and vernal appearance on the coast of Suffolk have 

 been accurately noted. They come over sparingly in the 

 first week in October, the greater numbers not arriving until 

 November and December, and always after sunset. It is, 

 however, the wind, and not the moon, which determines the 



