Singular Capture of a Woodcock. 163 



SINGULAR CAPTURE OF A WOODCOCK. 



Some time ago a labouring man in my employ made 

 capture of a woodcock under circumstances so peculiar 

 that probably the like may never occur again. He was 

 sauntering along one of the wood roads (Forest of Dean), 

 the day being Sunday, when he saw a woodcock at some 

 distance before him, close by the path's edge. On the 

 ground, it was going at a run through the grass; as it- 

 had already sighted him, and was making off in retreat. 

 His rapid advance upon it first brought it to the squat; 

 then, as he drew nearer, and it saw no chance of conceal- 

 ing itself, the alternative of flight was determined upon. 

 I believe it to be a fact that the woodcock in taking wing 

 uses its bill to help it up into the air, by pressing the 

 latter against the ground. Certainly before rising, as 

 every sportsman may have observed, this bird is seen 

 with head down and rump elevated, seemingly straining 

 its neck, as if for a leverage to aid it upwards. Just so 

 was this one doing when come upon by my labourer a 

 man who had seen the like before, being well acquainted 

 with the woodcock and its ways. But now he saw what 

 gave him a surprise, the bird convulsively fluttering its 

 wings, as in a struggle, while, instead of flying away, it 

 remained in the same spot, and so stayed till he got up, 

 and laid hold of it. Then to find that it was already held 

 in fast grip by the ground, into which it had dug its 

 beak, and could not draw it out again ! Strange as it 

 may appear, I can vouch for this as an actual occurrence ; 

 though the only one of the kind I have ever heard, or am 

 likely ever to hear of. 



