THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 213 



to be hoped that in all cases of woodcock-marking in the 

 future this excellent system will be followed. 



In a paper on "The Cleverness of the Woodcock," the 

 writer combats the assertion that the woodcock is "stupid" 

 (having in mind, possibly, the French saying, "Bete 

 comme un becasse"), and among other illustrations of his 

 point he states that "though a 'cock may flap away in 

 seeming hopelessness, a sportsman should not allow him- 

 self to be deceived into thinking that the shot is necessarily 

 easy. The very appearance of hopelessness may be a trick, 

 and at the moment when the trigger is pulled a twist and 

 swerve will come from those powerful wings that wfH 

 fling the little body far outside the shot's pattern 'fling,' 

 for that expresses just what these wings and what the 

 'cock's strong thighs and legs can do to win its safety." 



