WOODCOCK. 41 



When the Woodcock is pursued or put up by the sports- 

 man, it only flies to a short distance, at no great height, and 

 settles again by the side of some bush or bramble, if it is 

 obliged to leave the shelter of trees ; or it starts for a neigh- 

 bouring copse, provided the distance is not more than six 

 hundred yards ; sometimes the bird after leaving a copse, 

 will return again to it, by flying in a circling direction, and 

 will thus deceive the sportsman, who has not marked his bird 

 down. 



The Woodcock is very easily known by the peculiar noise 

 of its wings when flushed ; not only the sound produced 

 b ytheir rounded shape, but a pattering, as if the bird touches 

 the boughs and foliage, during its progress through the wood. 

 At night its flight is quicker and higher, and on taking wing 

 of its own accord for the purpose of beginning its journey, 

 it rises at once above the wood, and disappears high in the 

 air. 



It is a very remarkable singularity in the Woodcock, that 

 when it flies it invariably holds its beak pointed in a directions 

 towards the ground, so as to form a perfect angle with the 

 line of its back ; this position is most probably chosen, that 

 it may have thefull use of its eyes, which are placed almost 

 on the top of it head. In the same position it may be seen 

 standing at rest in cover, with its beak invariably directed 

 towards the ground. 



In the autumn and spring of the year, when Woodcocks 

 migrate, they frequently rove about for a quarter of an hour 

 at night and morning, pursuing one another on the wing, 

 snapping at each other, and tumbling about, either at dusk, 

 just before dark, or in the morning until daylight; this amuse- 

 ment or pastime is carried on in open places, avenues, or 

 meadows, at an elevation of from five to fifty feet from the 

 ground, and in Holland the inhabitants avail themselves 



