THE COMING OF THE WOODCOCK 



November, and as soon as sharp weather begins on the 

 Continent and northerly and easterly breezes blow, 

 woodcock begin to reach our shores in large numbers. 

 If the wind is favourable and preferably they fly with 

 it on their beam they arrive in pretty good fettle, and 

 so pass on, after a short sojourn in the nearest coverts, 

 to more desirable quarters. But not seldom they may 

 have, from a sudden shift of wind, or rising of a gale, 

 to buffet against weather that tries severely even their 

 powers of flight ; so that, on reaching our east coast, 

 they lie completely exhausted and may be taken by 

 hand. Years ago such a thing actually happened in 

 the streets of Southwold, in Suffolk, and the birds have 

 been noticed dropping in the churchyard, and even the 

 very streets of Rye. Quite decent bags can even now 

 occasionally be made after a sudden migration of wood- 

 cock upon our east coast by those who understand their 

 habits and take advantage of their opportunities. But 

 the woodcock so speedily moves on, after resting and 

 recruiting itself, after its long flight, that not an hour 

 should be lost on the receipt of tidings that these birds 

 are in the neighbourhood. It has been well said that 

 " Here to-day, gone to-morrow" is the woodcock's 

 motto. Certainly it describes very aptly the habit of 

 these birds. If, therefore, cock are reported in your 

 coverts, stand not upon the order of your shooting, but 

 go after them at once. In twenty-four hours nay, in 

 half a dozen hours the birds, upon which all British 

 gunners set so great a store, may have vanished, tenues 

 in auras. 



Cock make their flight hither almost always by night, 

 and the evidence received from keepers of various light- 

 houses, who are accustomed to pick up regularly and 

 report the bodies of birds killed by striking against 

 their huge and powerful lanterns, goes to prove that 



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