THE WOODCOCK. 145 



Arrival and Departure. 



the night, and generally return in the same direc- 

 tion, or through the same glades, to their day re- 

 treat. 



These birds of passage during summer, inhabit 

 Norway, Sweden, Lapland and other northern 

 countries, where they breed. As soon, however, 

 as the frosts commence they retire southward to 

 milder climates. They arrive in Great Britain in 

 flocks, some of them in October, but not in great 

 numbers till November and December. They 

 generally take advantage of the night, being sel- 

 dom seen to come before sun-set. The time of 

 their arrival depends considerably on the prevail^ 

 ing winds ; for adverse gales always detain them ; 

 not being able to struggle with the boisterous 

 squalls of the northern ocean. After their arri- 

 val in bad weather, they have often been seen so 

 much exhausted as to allow themselves to be 

 seized by the hand when they alighted near the 

 coast. 



The greater part of the woodcocks leave this 

 country about the latter end of February or the 

 beginning of March, always pairing before they 

 set out. They retire to the coast, and if the wind 

 be fair, set out immediately ; but if contrary, they 

 are often detained in the neighbouring woods 

 and thickets for some time. In this crisis the 

 sportsmen are alert, and the whole surrounding 

 country echoes the discharge of guns : seventeen 

 brace have been killed by one person in a day* 

 But if they are detained long on the dry heaths, 



VOL. iv. NO. 26. T 



