WOODCOCK. GRALLATORES. SCOLOPAX. 109 



the whole country gradually receives its accession of winter 

 visitants, those that take up their haunt in the northern 

 counties of England and Scotland seldom arriving before 

 the middle of November or the beginning of December ; the 

 earlier flights, when they do alight in the country, merely 

 remaining for a day, and then passing on to the southward. 

 From this latter circumstance, the search for Woodcocks in 

 Northumberland, in the beginning of the season, is very un- 

 certain, and, to insure success, attention must be paid to the 

 state of the weather and the direction of the wind. I have 

 found that they always come over in the greatest bodies in 

 hazy weather with little wind, and that blowing from the 

 north-east ; and it is probable that they then find the upper 

 region of the atmosphere (in which they fly) freer from coun- 

 ter currents of air, than in more open weather. After a 

 night of this description I have frequently met with great 

 numbers upon the edges of plantations, in hedges, and even 

 in turnip fields, and enjoyed excellent sport for the day; 

 but on seeking, on the following morning, for a renewal of 

 the like success, I have not found a single bird, the whole 

 flight having proceeded on their course during the interven- 

 ing night. It is during this time that Woodcocks, like 

 most migratory birds, perform their journeys ; and it seems 

 probable that those which halt upon the eastern coast of 

 Scotland, and the northern counties of England, have com- 

 pleted their task from shore to shore, between sunset and 

 sunrise, as they appear but little fatigued on their arrival, 

 provided the weather has been calm. The distance of the 

 coasts of Norway and Sweden, from whence these visitors are 

 supposed to come, offers no objection to this supposition, as 

 a continued flight of eight or ten hours, even at a rate infe- 

 rior to what I conceive they are capable of accomplishing, 

 would suffice for the transit. Another argument in favour 

 of this supposition, is the high state of condition in which 

 the birds generally arrive on our shores, especially at an ad- 

 vanced period of the season, by no means indicating the 



