142 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



of owls on the hunt, so very owl-like at this season 

 is the flight of the woodcocks. As the birds clear 

 the trees for the more open moorland this flight 

 alters, and in the evening light they look like two 

 hawks buffeting each other. No owl-like flapping 

 now, for they are tilting. This is the play of the 

 woodcock just before nesting. The bird must have 

 moist feeding-grounds, but his nest is, as a rule, 

 placed in a dry situation. 



There is very little done now in the way of 

 tealing that is, springeing for woodcocks : the 

 birds are not numerous enough for that in this 

 district. Drain - pipes have had the same effect 

 in the decrease of woodcocks and snipes as they 

 have had in causing fowl to leave the moorlands. 

 The woodcock is a very interesting bird ; as regards 

 exquisite pencilled plumage, he takes the first place. 

 After him, in the matter of delicate pencilling, 

 come the wryneck and fern-owl, goat-sucker, or 

 heave- jar. As things are now, we never expect 

 to be asked to look at a woodcock running about 

 with her chick on the edge of the moor again. 

 The way that the bird conceals himself if squat- 

 ting in dead leaves can be called doing that is 



