120 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



beat by the above methods. Few sportsmen would even walk 

 through some of our tangled coverts in the Highlands, and 

 shooting is out of the question, 



" Where, sunk in copse, your furthest glance 

 Gains not the length of horseman's lance ; 

 And oft so steep, the foot is fain 

 Assistance from the hand to gain." 



It is in such places that cockers and springers are of real 

 service. The woodcocks generally fly straight over the tops of 

 the trees, and drop down near the opposite side of the covert. 

 Sometimes they take the whole round, and pitch close to 

 where they were sprung. 



Should one of these large circular belts be placed on the 

 steep side of a hill, there is a capital opportunity for taking a 

 lesson in the tactics of this bird. By placing yourself upon 

 an opposite knoll, every flushed woodcock is immediately seen, 

 and his course traced without the possibility of subterfuge or 

 evasion. Many sportsmen place a marker upon this point, 

 and are thus directed to the very spot where all the sprung 

 birds have pitched. But if they had the patience to watch a 

 few times for themselves, they would be amply rewarded by 

 insight into the manoeuvres of this interesting visitant. If 

 sprung fairly, most of the birds will top precisely the same 

 trees, and fly past the same openings every time. Some will 

 make it their rule to pitch down after taking one stretch 

 across ; others, by wheeling about, take two ; while a few lazy 

 ones may content themselves with a flight only half through 

 the wood. If flushed a second time, however, their move- 

 ments, for that day, are not so much to be depended on. 

 Should the party of beaters be numerous and noisy, many of 

 the woodcocks will drop down outside the covert, especially if 

 much persecuted and driven about. Some sly old fellows try 

 this ruse after their first flight. The sportsman, therefore, 

 should always walk round the plantation outside before quit- 

 ting it. But, as most of the birds will fly sharp, he must be 



