162 WOODCOCK SHOOTING. 



marker in a tree, before you attempt to flush one a 

 second time ; and, when you have marked down a cock, 

 to remember, how very apt he is to run instead of 

 rising from the spot in which you may have seen him 

 drop. If a cock flies away, he observes, and continues 

 to rise wild, you may go safely beyond where he may 

 have last dropped, and then back again to beat for him 

 (having some one to make a noise on the side where 

 you had before advanced on him) ; and he will then 

 most likely either lie close, or fly towards you. If this 

 will not do, take your station quietly to windward (as 

 cocks generally fly against the wind), give a whistle 

 when you are ready, and let the other person then 

 draw on and flush him. His cry of "mark" will 

 assist in frightening and driving the cock forward, 

 and be a signal for your preparation. 



Infinitely the best cock-shooting we have ever 

 had, was in Ireland on the coast of Donegal and 

 Leitrim. In the neighbourhood of Ballyshannon, 

 these counties unite, and there, in the woods of 

 Oakfield, belonging to a connexion of our own, we 

 . have met woodcocks in flocks or " wisps," an occur- 

 rence without parallel in our sporting career. The 

 manner of pursuing them is by two-legged beaters, a 

 company of boys, or gossoons, as natural and naked as 

 any four-footed cockers, and going to work with a zeal 

 and instinct that would shame the best bred spaniels 

 of Blenheim, or anywhere else. These " spalpeens " 

 are as well broken to the sport as any crack train of 

 dogs, and take a delight in it that shews they are to 



