146 Poachers and Poaching. 



years' growth are thick in the top. Killing 'cock, 

 as they dash through the twigs of these and 

 seldom rising above the bushes, is one great test 

 of a shooter's skill. Then the birds have a 

 habit of dropping down at a short distance, 

 which almost invariably deludes the inexperienced 

 gunner. When they are put up from their 

 resting places during the day the flight is rapid ; 

 at evening it is slow. It is now that they are 

 easiest to shoot ; though in some parts of the 

 country they are still taken in nets as they fly at 

 dusk through the paths of the woods. Netting 

 woodcocks was at one time the common way of 

 taking them ; for they have always been highly 

 esteemed as food. Another method of capture 

 was by "gins" and " springs ;" and it would 

 seem that in times past the "woodsnipe" was 

 considered a stupid bird. None of the denizens 

 of the woods conforms better or more closely to 

 its environment. The browns and duns and 

 yellows of its plumage all have their counter- 

 part in the leaves among which it lies ; and it 

 has been pointed out that the one conspicuous 

 ornament of the bird is covered by a special 

 provision from the gaze of those for whose 

 admiration it is not intended. This is the bright 

 colouring of the tail feathers, which cannot be 

 seen except at the will of the bird or in flight. 

 Its protection lacks in one thing, however, and 

 that is its large dark eye ; this is full, bright, and 



