48 THE BIRDS OF NOBTSAMPTONSRIRE 



still afford attractions to many Englishmen and 

 shooters of other nationalities, but the rapacity of 

 the Greeks, and the veneer of civilization forced 

 upon the Turks, must do away with a very great 

 deal of the comforts and pleasures formerly enjoyed 

 under the Union Jack. 



To return to the habits of the Woodcock in our 

 country, I am inclined to think that during the latter 

 weeks of March and the first week in April more of 

 these birds may be found in our woodlands than at 

 any other time of the year; but they are at this 

 season generally paired, very poor in condition, and 

 now very properly protected by the law. It is, 

 however, at this season that the German sportsman 

 looks forward to his principal sport at Woodcocks, 

 as it seems that, comparatively speaking, few of these 

 birds remain in the woods and forests of Central 

 Europe during the winter ; whilst on the return 

 migration in the early spring, under favourable 

 conditions of weather, many Woodcocks drop in for 

 a few days and are shot by ambushed gunners in 

 the mornings and evenings as they are " roding," 

 i. e. toying in pursuit of one another along the glades 

 and rides in the woods. At this time of year in our 

 own woodlands I have found that Woodcocks will 

 run before beaters and dogs, and are generally 

 ■wilder and more difiacult of approach than in the 

 legitimate shooting-season. 



On a still evening in early April, if there are 

 Woodcocks in our woods, one hears them rise, and if 

 the observer is favourably situated, in a few moments 

 one or two of these birds will come dashing down 

 a ride about the tops of the trees with a curious 

 guttural croak, varied by a short whistle. The birds 



