WOODCOCK IN IRELAND 219 



the west coast of Ireland in November. Coming from the east, 

 they pass Heligoland in large numbers, but are much more 

 abundant in the autumn. If the weather is warm and calm, 

 with light south-easterly to southerly winds and is succeeded 

 by a stiff north-wester, a great flight of woodcock is probable, 

 in which case the migration hosts are evidently unexpectedly 

 surprised during their flight by the stormy weather and large 

 numbers of them are driven to seek shelter on the ground. 

 On occasions of this kind the number of these birds which has 

 been found within the limited area of this island, covering barely 

 a square mile, has almost approached the marvellous. On 

 October 21, 1823, the number of woodcock caught and shot 

 have exceeded 1,100, eighty-three of these were bagged by 

 Jacob Lassen and ninety-nine by Hans Prohe. Most of the 

 gunners then used old infantry muskets the remains of a 

 cargo of a Dutch vessel which had run ashore ; its contents, 

 after lying for months at the sea bottom, had been fished up 

 during calm weather ; for measuring the charge of powder and 

 shot these old sportsmen used as a rule the bowl of a clay 

 pipe. On October 18, 1861, about six hundred cock were caught 

 and shot here, five hundred of which I saw lying on the shop 

 floor of a dealer. The young migrate before the old birds.* 



Some of these birds, no doubt, resume their journey south 

 (Spain ?), but the great majority remain all the winter. In 

 February woodcock are said to be more numerous here than 

 at any other time, thanks probably to immigration from the 

 south. On the spot the belief is current, however, that the 

 cock at that time collect from all parts of Ireland and rendez- 

 vous prior to the departure northward of the greater number. 

 The birds are seen everywhere in that month " flying about 

 like owls all over the place." 



To account for the great difference in size between the birds, 

 some authorities state that there are two distinct races of 

 woodcock, others that it is due to the supposed fact of the 

 female being heavier and bigger than its mate. Thus Morris 

 gives the average weight of the male as 1112 ozs., that of the 

 female as 13-15 ozs., and says : " The head on the sides about 

 the streak from the bill to the eye is darker than in the male, 

 and the small triangular-shaped specks are less defined ; the 



* Gaetke. 



