A SPRINGE FOR WOODCOCKS. 22Q 



" Four woodcocks in a dish." 



Loves Labour 's Lost, Act iv. Sc. 3. 



The woodcock, for some unaccountable reason, was sup- 

 posed to have no brains, and the name of this bird became 

 a synonym for a fool. It is to this that Claudio alludes 

 when he says : 



" Shall I not find a woodcock too?" 



Much Ado about Nothing, Act v. Sc. i. 

 Again 



" O this woodcock ! what an ass it is !" 



Taming of the Shrew, Act i. Sc. 2. 



Shakespeare has many allusions to the capture of this 

 bird by springe and gin 



" Aye, springes to catch woodcocks." 



Hamlet, Act i. Sc. 3. 



In his " Natural History and Sport in Moray," Mr. St. 

 John describes a springe with which he used to take both 

 snipe and woodcocks very successfully. It was made as 

 follows : 



A. Rod like a mole-trap stick. B. Short piece of stick, c. Forked stick with one 

 end passed through the other, n. Straight stick. E. Bent stick. F. Hair-snare. 



