COCK SHOOTING. 



stone, and have your finger on the trigger the 

 moment it drops. In such weather a pointer, 

 setter, or even a Clumber is not of service, but 

 a retriever will be useful. When a cock is 

 wounded it will hide itself with great ingenuity, 

 seeking nooks and corners which, from the hue 

 of the ground, the old grass, fallen leaves, or 

 withered brambles, are exactly en suite with its 

 own russet garb. 



It is a pity that in the northern parts of 

 Europe, where these birds breed, their eggs 

 are considered a greater luxury than even the 

 eggs of the plover amongst us, and should 

 fetch a high price. The consequence is, of 

 course, a great diminution in the numbers that 

 come over to us. Formerly it was believed 

 that the flight of cocks was made by the moon, 

 that they required moonshine, and travelled by 

 and put off their journey until the almanac 

 was propitious. The theory is now almost as 

 obsolete as the belief that the barnacle mussel 

 is the father and mother in one of the barnacle 

 goose. The ill wind from the north and the 

 north-east that blew of late must have brought 

 us good in the shape of numerous woodcocks, 



