WOODCOCK-SHOOTING. 



WOODCOCK-SHOOTING. 



WOODCOCKS are generally to be found, in the greatest 

 abundance, within a few miles of the sea-coast : though 

 they traverse the whole country, their haunts are near 

 springs and coverts, and where the upper staple of the 

 soil is productive of worms. Their creeps, in the early 

 part of the season, are in hedge-rows and clumps of 

 trees, upon soft heather, among the cover, or on the 

 margin of ponds, and in springy bottoms ; afterwards in 

 young wood, and in the skirts of woods. The only dogs 

 for cock-shooting are setters, or good questing spaniels ; 

 and good noses are indispensably necessary, if the birds 

 are not plenty. The cock is not easily flushed, but 

 conceals itself under the stubs, or any cover ; it is often 

 very sluggish. It will often, when marked, be found 

 to have run considerably wide, a circumstance which 

 must be allowed for. 



Woodcocks rise heavily, with a flapping of the wings, 

 and in their flight skim leisurely along the ground, pre- 

 senting a fair mark ; when, if missed, they seldom fly far. 

 But when flushed among tall trees, they rise with great 

 velocity, and louder flapping of the wings ; when they 

 have risen so high as to be clear of the trees, they take 

 their usual horizontal flight. This is the only difficult 

 part of cock-shooting ; much use and quickness being 

 requisite to catch an aim through the branches of the 

 trees. Markers are very useful in woodcock-shooting, 



