706 THE WOODCOCK. 



The Woodcock is nearly as well known, though not so plentiful as the snipe, to which 

 bird it bears a considerable resemblance in form, plumage, and many habits. 



Generally it is only a winter visitor, arriving about October, and leaving England in 

 March or April. Sometimes, however, it will breed within the British isles, and there 

 remain throughout tlie sunnner. During their migration the Woodcocks fly at a great 

 altitude, and descend almost perpendicularly upon the spot where they intend to rest. 

 They fly in companies of varying numbers, and prefer hazy and calm weather for their 

 journey. 



It is rather peculiar in some of its habits ; so that an experienced Woodcock-shooter 

 will find plenty of birds, and fill his bag, in places where a novice will hardly get a single 

 shot. It is not to be seen until long after noon, and prefers the earliest dawn and the 

 hours of dusk for feeding and going abroad. At daybreak it rises from its covert to some 

 height, uttering its peculiar call, wheels about at a considerable elevation, and then stai^ts 

 off to its feeding-grounds, which" are like those of the snipe, wet and marshy, though the 

 bird always chooses a dry and elevated spot for its couch. After satisfying its hunger, 

 it returns to its domicile, and remains quietly hidden until about three or four in the 

 afternoon, "\^•hen the short day is at its close. After spending some time in feeding, it 

 returns to its couch after some preliminary wheeling and twisting in the air, and lies quiet 

 until the dawn of the next day calls it again to activity. 



The food of the Woodcock consists mostly of worms, which it obtains with extra- 

 ordinary skill, thrusting its beak as far as the nostrils into the soft moist earth, and hitting 

 upon the hidden worms with unerring skill. A tame Woodcock has been seen to probe 

 large turfs with its bill, and to draw out a worm at every thrust of the long slender beak. 

 It is thought that the sense of smell enables the bird to discover the worms beneath the 

 surface. It moves about chiefly on misty days, and is said by experienced Woodcock- 

 shooters to prefer the northern side of a hill to the southern. 



It is a very silent bird, seldom uttering its cry except when first starting for its 

 feeding-places, and hardly even crying when flushed. The flight of the Woodcock is 

 wonderfully swift, although the wings do not appear to move very fast ; and the bird has 

 a custom of jerking and dodging about so quickly when it sees the sportsman, that it 

 often escapes his shot. One bird, mentioned by Mv. Thompson, used to baffle an 

 experienced sportsman by always feeding near an archway, and slipping through it before 

 the gun coidd be brought to bear. Not that the frequent escapes of the bird are owing 

 solely to the cj^uickness and irregularity of its flight, because a good eye and ready hand 

 soon become accustomed to such movements ; but the individual birds are so variable 

 in their mode of flight that the movements of one form hardly any criterion to those of 

 another. 



Yet, when it is hit, it falls a very easy prey, as it falls to a very slight blow, so that 

 the smaller sizes of shot can be employed ; and when wounded it has not much idea of 

 running and hiding itself, and can be easily found by a good spaniel. The first day of a 

 thaw is said to be the best for Woodcock shooting, but the birds are apt to desert the spot 

 within a day or two. 



It has been remarked, that when a certain number of Woodcocks inhabit a copse, the 

 same number will always be found in the same spot, in spite of those that are killed. 

 Anglers have remarked a similar custom with trout, especially the larger fish, for if they 

 have taken a fine trout out of a certam spot, the deserted tenement is sure to be occupied 

 immediately by another large trout. 



The nest of the Woodcock is made of leaves — those of the fern being favourites — ■ 

 closely laid together, but without any particular skill in arrangement, and without lining. 

 The full number of eggs is four, and their colour is buffy white with rusty brown 

 blotches. The mother bird has been known to carry away her young when threatened by 

 danger ; and from reliable accounts, she places them upon her spread feet, pressing tliem 

 between the toes and the breast. According to Mr. St. John, " regularly as the evening 

 comes on, many Woodcocks carry their young ones down to the soft feeding-grounds and 

 bring them back again to the shelter of the woods before daylight. I have often seen 

 them going down to the swamps in the evening, carrying their young with them. 



