COURSING, ETC. 



The woodcock walks clumsily, as all birds 

 are observed to do which have great wings 

 and short legs. His sight is also very bad, 

 and particularly in the day-time, it is said 

 however that he sees better in the dusk. 



Shooting woodcocks is very pleasant 

 amusement in woods which are not too 

 .thick, and if they are cut through in several 

 places it renders it more easy to shoot them 

 in their passage, when they spring in the 

 wood, and also to mark them with greater 

 certainty. There is a species of spaniels 

 which give tongue when the cock springs, or 

 when they get upon his haunt ; these dogs 

 are extremely useful, as they warn the sports* 

 man to be upon his guard. In this sport it 

 is very material to have two or three good 

 markers ; with this assistance, if the wood 

 is not too large, it will be difficult for a cock 

 to escape from a good shot. I have seen it 

 frequently happen that he will suffer himself 

 to be sprung and shot at two or three times, 

 before he will leave the wood to go to a 



B b 



