WOODCOCK AND SNIPE 103 



when they were most needed. I have known them 

 to hang covered with a white hoar frost, where 

 the cocks have been springed at the time that 

 kind of frost was about. Now and then some 

 unprincipled prowler would take a bird or a couple 

 from some of the " teals," unobserved as he thought, 

 but he would not get away with them. Deserted 

 as that wild moor might appear, at that time tealers 

 were there from sunset to morning. Some one was 

 hid up in a fern hover, on the watch, not for 

 thieves, but to take the birds out of the springes 

 and to re-set them. 



One of that kind who are slightly hazy as to 

 other people's birds has pocketed a couple and is 

 marching off, as he thinks ; but he is mistaken, for 

 a muffled figure rises from his dry fern-brake lair 

 and stands in front of the thief with the simple 

 words "Hand them 'ere birds over!" There is 

 no dispute possible ; in fact if there is the least 

 hesitation, a tearing, panting scuffle ensues ; the 

 two are like a couple of dogs at work, and the better 

 man wins. Yet you might be on the moor for two 

 seasons without hearing of a case of this kind. 



There is no accounting for taste ; the Woodcock 

 is not drawn when cooked, the trail, as the intes- 

 tines are called, on toast is considered the best part 

 of the bird. If those who eat it had seen the marks 

 of the bird's probing where I have, I fancy they 

 would decline " trail " with thanks. But game in 

 any shape I do not care for, even when hung just 

 right : I prefer the joint. 



