CREPUSCULAR HABITS. 143 



proachable, although he had breakfasted that very 

 morning on nearly half a flower -pot full of 

 worms. 



The woodcock being a crepuscular and noc- 

 turnal bird, that is to say, his active life com- 

 mencing in the evening and continuing throughout 

 the night, the regular sportsman meets with him 

 only when flushed reluctantly from those spots 

 to which he retires for concealment during the 

 open day. His organs of vision, like those of 

 the owls, the nightjar, the great plover, and 

 other birds that feed principally after sunset, are 

 large and prominent, and admirably adapted for 

 concentrating the partial and confused rays of 

 twilight. At that hour he quits his shady retreats 

 among the fir and holly plantations or the great 

 woods, and flying along the open roads and alleys 

 that lead to the adjoining meadows, swamps, 

 moors, or lowlands, he passes the whole night 

 in search of food. It is a remarkable fact that 

 the impulse to take wing seems to pervade these 

 birds at nearly the same moment, and during 

 the protracted twilight of spring, great numbers 

 fall victims to these pot-hunting gunners whom 

 the unrestrained use of fire-arms is too apt to 

 encourage among an idle and unemployed popu- 

 lation. The facilities for this sport (!) are great. 

 No trespass is committed ; no game certificate 



