METHOD OF CATCHING WOODCOCKS. 1(>7 



pass through the narrow passage, with every chance 

 of being caught by the legs. The elastic- stick, in 

 flying up, of course draws the noose quite tight, and 

 effectually secures the Woodcock ; but common 

 horse-hair nooses will often answer the purpose, 

 particularly it' the little avenue fence is placed, to 

 lead the birds to the snare. We remember seeing, 

 in the south of France, a tolerably large fallow- 

 field, actually sown with horse-hair nooses, placed 

 in straight lines, for catching Larks and other 

 small birds ; so closely were they set, that it was 

 almost impossible for any small bird to alight in 

 the field, and run a lew feet, without being caught. 

 The guiding avenue consisted merely of two small 

 twigs, curved outwardly on each side; this external 

 curve acting as a sufficient cheek to the bird's free 

 passage, excepting along the line of snares. The 

 labour of the person who had given himself the 

 trouble of setting them, was, we understood, 

 amply repaid by the numbers taken by this simple 

 process. 



We shall conclude what we have to say on the 

 Woodcock, or, as it is scientifically termed, the 

 Scolopax genus, by a lew remarks upon one species, 

 which was formerly an object of adoration amongst 

 the ancient Egyptians, during life; and, after death, 

 was honoured with funeral rites equal to those 

 bestowed upon their kings and princes, being en- 

 tombed in sacred monuments, and still found, as 

 mummies, embalmed with precious ointments and 

 divers kinds of spices. It was to this bird that 

 St. Paul chiefly alludes, in Romans i. 23, when he 



