COCK SHOOTING. 165 



cocks shot near the shore (at the time of 

 their arrival) are invariably thin and feeble ; 

 and, in fact, so weak are they -that in some 

 parts of Ireland they are watched and preyed 

 upon by hawks that would never tackle with 

 such a quarry if the birds had been in con- 

 dition. They revive wonderfully in a short 

 time, and for the reason that they are closer 

 to their feeding though not to their hiding- 

 grounds than when they seek the drier regions 

 of wood and heather. The cock feeds upon 

 the worms found in swamps and marshes, 

 and this fare is abundant in the fens; but 

 being of all things a shy secretive bird, it leaves 

 even good diet for the sake of security. 



There are many ways and places in which to 

 seek for cock. The bird is shy of artificial 

 coverts, however naturally made. The cock 

 seems to suspect the snug haunts established 

 for the pheasant. The best shooting is gene- 

 rally to be had in larger woods or fir groves, 

 especially if these are in the neighbourhood of 

 a wet meadow or a bog. In the recesses of the 

 wood the bird lies all day, whether asleep or 

 awake we believe nobody has yet discovered, 



