248 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



it is on record that very much heavier bags of freshly- 

 arrived woodcock have been made in the most favourable 

 seasons. 



In the district mentioned the arrival of two widely 

 different species of winter migrants are said to surely 

 prognosticate the coming of the woodcock. These are 

 the short-eared owl and the golden-crested wren. For 

 this reason the former is commonly called the " wood- 

 cock " owl, and the latter the " woodcock pilot." Most 

 sportsmen are familiar with the appearance of this 

 ground-owl as it flaps up out of turnips or long grass 

 in October. Possibly, however, not all the short-eared 

 owls then seen are foreigners, as some remain to breed 

 in this country, for I have found it nesting on the ground 

 in some northern marshes. The diminutive gold-crest, 

 too, is quite a feature on certain parts of the east coast 

 in mid-October, and I have sometimes found such enor- 

 mous flights, that every bush and tuft of bent-grass seemed 

 to be tenanted with one or more of the little " woodcock 

 pilots." At such times there need not have been any 

 difficulty in forming a closer acquaintanceship, for a 

 shooting-cap could readily be thrown over one or other 

 of these tiny mites. 



Many of the keener gunners along that part of the 

 coast are up and away at the first streak of dawn for 

 many days together during October in anxious expecta- 

 tion of being lucky enough to fall in with a good flight 

 of woodcock. At this time people who seldom handle a 

 gun are to be seen eager in their quest, and as a con- 

 sequence scores of these birds are killed in a plentiful 

 season. This perhaps is not to be wondered at, seeing 

 that now and again a fair shot may bag his ten or more 

 couples of woodcock, for which he will find a ready 



