224 USE OF MARKERS 



such coverts, they generally light after making a some- 

 what small circuit ; and it is very difficult to mark 

 them down exactly in such thick growth without the 

 aid of a marker well placed ; they are very loath to 

 leave good coverts, and unless scared by being fired 

 at and missed, they generally contrive to run into 

 some impenetrable bush, 



I have found markers more necessary for this style 

 of shooting than at any other times ; and a man who 

 is used to the work very soon learns the flight of all 

 the cock in the covert ; for they will persevere in the 

 same flight day after day, and drop at the same feed- 

 ing spots. When, however, they are flushed a second 

 time, if much frightened, they will take long flights, 

 and, unlike partridges, the oftener they are flushed the 

 wilder they get. With partridges the reverse is the 

 case, for the latter, after being put up the third time, 

 lie closer every time they are flushed. If a woodcock 

 therefore is not killed at the first or second chance, 

 the odds are considerably in favour of his getting up 

 out of shot at the third time of asking, and he will 

 probably take himself off to * fresh fields and pastures' 

 unless the feeding-grounds in the neighbourhood are 

 too inferior for him to make use of. 



A great number of woodcock breed in the High- 

 lands ; and I have observed them from the time they 

 were in the nest until their leaving the country at the 

 end of September. These Scotch birds go to Ireland, 

 Norway, and the English coasts for some two or three 

 months, and return to their breeding grounds In 

 January, and as a rule appear to remain in the open 

 ground until March, when they return to their favourite 

 woods, and lay their eggs in a clay hole, which they 



