WOODCOCK. 125 



As a bird for the table, the Woodcock is greatly and almost universally esteemed; 

 indeed, the ordinary price, six or seven shillings a brace, for so small a bird, is sufficient 

 proof that epicures will have them if they are to be had. They are dressed with the 

 trail in, as most birds of this order are. 



The habits of the Woodcock lead it to remain during the day in some secluded copse 

 or wood, where it lies concealed, reposing under some holly or laurel bush, if such be 

 attainable; or else under some spruce fir or brushwood, where the bottom is moist and 

 clear. Unless disturbed, it remains in this concealment the whole day, but as twilight 

 advances towards night, it leaves its day retreat on steady and silent wing for its 

 feeding-ground, which is usually some marshy locality, often at a considerable distance. 

 Night after night it follows the same well-known though unmarked track through some 

 glade of the wood, returning with the first blush of day by the same road, which from 

 the circumstance of its being regularly frequented by these birds, obtains the name of 

 "cock-road," or "cock-shoot." The period of twilight when the Woodcock flies to and 

 from its feeding-ground, is called by the Devonshire countrymen, "cock-light," as I am 

 informed by the Eev. B. Archer Julian. 



During the day these birds may very frequently be found in hedge-rows, particularly 

 those which are wide, and open at the bottom; such situations should always be care- 

 fully examined and well beaten, for Woodcocks will often lie very close. Occasionally they 

 will be found in very different situations; we remember once seeing one flushed in the 

 middle of an elevated, open, stony, very dry grass field, in the afternoon of a late 

 October day; we should have rather looked for a Great Plover in such a locality. In 

 districts where heathy mountains prevail, with woody glens interspersed here and there, 

 they may often in open weather, particularly early in the season, be found taking shelter 

 during the day-time among the heath; but woods are their favourite day retreat. 



Singular as it may seem, there can now be no doubt of the fact, that Woodcocks 

 carry their young, which are very helpless, from the nest to their night feeding-grounds ; 

 this is effected by means of the feet, however unfitted for such an office they may seem. 

 It is with much pleasure that we quote the following from the pen of Mr. C. St. John, 

 in elucidation of this point: — "Many people doubt the fact of the Woodcock carrying 

 her young, from the wood to the swamp, in her feet; and certainly the claws of the 

 Woodcock appear to be little adapted to grasping and carrying a heavy substance; yet 

 such is most undoubtedly the case. Eegularly 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, where they remain during the whole day. I myself 

 have never happened to see the Woodcocks in the act of returning, but I have often 

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

 Indeed it is quite evident that they must in most instances transport the newly-hatched 



