THE WOODCOCK. H9 



from its bill. When a woodcock is found in an 

 open field, in a hedge-row, in the pass of a wood, or 

 an unfrequented lane, he generally skims the ground 

 slowly, and is very easily shot; in fact, thus circum- 

 stanced, lie is the easiest of shots : but it is occasion- 

 ally otherwise, particularly when he is flushed in a 

 tall wood, where he is obliged to clear the tops of 

 trees before he can take a horizontal direction ; at 

 which time he frequently rises very high, and with 

 great rapidity, and it becomes very difficult to seize 

 the moment of shooting, by reason of the turnings 

 and twistings which he is obliged to make, in order 

 to pass between the trees. 



In this diversion a person is often employed as a 

 beater, which is highly necessary, and may be very 

 useful at the same time in marking. But it is quite 

 wrong to assert (as most writers on this subject have 

 done) that too much noise cannot be made. There is 

 no doubt but more noise may be used in woodcock- 

 shooting than any other without injury ; yet all that 

 is necessary is what the beater makes with his staff 

 in the thickets or hedges, and more than this will be 

 found injurious. As to making use of bells in this 

 diversion, the custom is a bad one. 



There have been several white woodcocks shot at 

 different times in England. This whiteness, however, 

 might arise from disease or food ; but undoubtedly is 

 a very uncommon appearance. I have seen a white 

 starling. Many instances have occurred where small 

 birds kept in cages have changed colour. Black- 



