218 WOODCOCK 



have from time to time appeared in the papers on the 

 subject ; and now the much-dreaded results of inatten- 

 tion to them are apparent Where the evils of the 

 mistaken Ground Game Act are going to end, I, for 

 one, fail to perceive. 



If sport is to be knocked on the head, the manhood 

 of our successors must suffer ; and those of them who 

 are anxious for sport, and can afford to do so, will be 

 forced to seek it abroad. 



Woodcock, like snipe, are at their best in November, 

 certainly not earlier. They should be allowed a few 

 days' rest after their arrival, in order to recruit thfir 

 condition and strength after the fatigue of their long 

 flight, the latter often made against adverse winds. 



In some seasons the latter are so heavy that they 

 are utterly unable to contend against them, and in 

 consequence those of them which survive make off to 

 other countries, and never reach the Irish coasts. In 

 seasons which are favourable for their crossing, some 

 good bags may be made in the south and west of 

 Ireland. When the birds are well rested and strong 

 on the wing, they take almost as much shooting as 

 snipe ; and when shooting woodcock in thick coverts, 

 the quicker the gun is on them the better. 



I may say that this is about the only bird I know of 

 for which pigeon-shooting over traps is good practice. 

 In our wild Irish coverts there is but little time for 

 steady aim at them, and they require to be shot at 

 once. 



Often, after being flushed, woodcock will light in the 

 most extraordinary places outside a covert ; places 

 which would be the very last and most unlikely to 

 expect to find them in. 



