WOODCOCK. -39 



or snows in the beginning of March, this species remains 

 almost stationary until the weather becomes milder again ; 

 allowing the sportsman thus a long time to obtain 

 specimens. But when the weather is severe and frosty in 

 February and March, the Woodcock does not start by far 

 so soon, and when it does begin its migration late in March, 

 it hurries over the ground it has to pass, and the entire 

 bulk of them give the sporstman hardly more than a week's 

 diversion ; besides which, the bird, by allowing itself scarcely 

 time to feed by the way, is not found much on the ground^ 

 and is mostly in bad condition for the table. 



The Woodcock always travels during the night, after 

 having previously fed from dusk till dark. These birds 

 travel alone, or at most in pairs, which fact has been dis- 

 puted by some observers, in consequence of the numbers 

 that are found in certain localities in the morning, after 

 a mild autumnal night. 



The woods on the north-east side of the islands along the 

 coast of Denmark, are much frequented by the Woodcock in 

 the autumn, and similar spots may be searched with frequent 

 success in our country, namely the north-east sides of hills 

 covered by copses or woods. It is probable that this bird, 

 being crepuscular in its habits, prefers that aspect, as being 

 mostly sheltered from the obtrusive light of day. 



As the name of the present species indicates, the favourite 

 haunts of the Woodcock are woods, but it seems chiefly 

 to frequent the cover of young trees in preference to large 

 forests, since it is only met with in the latter localities during 

 the time of migration, when it will alight in the most un- 

 likely places for a day's rest, after a long flight, such as 

 orchards, hedge-rows, and ditches in open ground. 



The reason why the Woodcock at all times seeks for 

 trees on alighting, is only for the purpose of concealment ; 



