252 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS chap. 



However, since the great increase" of fir plantations, great 

 numbers remain to breed. In the woods of Altyre and Darna- 

 way (as well as in all the other extensive plantations in the 

 country), during the whole spring and summer, I see the wood- 

 cocks flying to and fro every evening in considerable numbers. 

 As early as six or seven o'clock, they begin to fly, uttering their 

 curious cry, which resembles more the croak of a frog than 

 anything else ; varied, however, by a short shrill chirp. Down 

 the shaded course of the river, or through the avenues and 

 glades of the forest, already dark from the shadow of the pine- 

 trees, the woodcocks keep* up a continual flight, passing and 

 repassing in all directions, as if in search of each other. As 

 the twilight comes on, in the open part of the country, they 

 leave the shade of the woods and fly down to the swamps and 

 pools near the sea-shore and elsewhere, to feed during the night. 

 When watching in the evening for wild ducks or geese near 

 the swamps by the shore, I have constantly seen them pitch 

 close to me, and commence feeding in their peculiar manner. 

 These birds must probably come from the Altyre woods, the 

 nearest point of which is at a distance of two or three miles. 

 In the evening the woodcock's flight is rapid and steady, instead 

 of being uncertain and owl-like, as it often is in the bright sun- 

 shine. I consider their vision to be peculiarly adapted to the 

 twilight, and even to the darker hours of night — this being the 

 bird's feeding-time. In very severe and protracted snowstorms 

 and frosts I have seen them feeding at the springs during the 

 daytime ; but in moderate weather they pass all the light hours 

 in the solitary recesses of the quietest parts of the woods, 

 although occasionally one will remain all day in the swamp, or 

 near the springs on the hill-side, where he had been feeding 

 during the night. When they first arrive, about the month of 

 November, I have sometimes fallen in with two or three brace 

 far up on the mountain, while grouse-shooting. They then sit 

 very close, and are easily killed. The first frost, however, sends ■■ 

 them all to the shelter of the woods. No bird seems less 

 adapted for a long flight across the sea than the woodcock ; 

 and it is only by taking advantage of a favourable wind that 

 they can accomplish their passage. An intelligent master of a 

 ship once told me, that in his voyages to and from Norway and 

 Sweden, he has frequently seen them, tired and exhausted, pitch 



