WOODCOCK. 



247 



times sooner ; and I doubt not but in mild winters some few 

 remain with us the whole of that season. During the day they 

 keep to the woods and thickets, and at the approach of even- 

 ing seek the springs and open watery places to feed in. They 

 soon disperse themselves over the country to breed. About 

 the beginning of July, particularly in long-continued hot 

 weather, they descend to the marshy shores of our large rivers, 

 their favourite springs and watery recesses inland being chiefly 

 dried up. To the former of these retreats they are pursued 

 by the merciless sportsman, flushed by dogs, and shot down 

 in great numbers. This species of amusement, when eagerly 

 followed, is still more laborious and fatiguing than that of 

 snipe-shooting ; and, from the nature of the ground, or cripple, 

 as it is usually called, viz., deep mire intersected with old logs, 

 which are covered and hid from sight by high reeds, weeds, 

 and alder bushes, the best dogs are soon tired out ; and it is 

 customary with sportsmen who regularly pursue this diversion 

 to have two sets of dogs, to relieve each other alternately. 



The woodcock usually begins to lay in April. The nest is 

 placed on the ground, in a retired part of the woods, fre- 

 quently at the root of an old stump. It is formed of a few 

 withered leaves and stalks of grass, laid with very little art. 

 The female lays four, sometimes five eggs, about an inch 

 and a half long, and an inch or rather more in diameter, taper- 

 ing suddenly to the small end. These are of a dun clay colour, 

 thickly marked with spots of brown, particularly at the great 

 end, and interspersed with others of a very pale purple. The 

 nest of the woodcock has, in several instances that have come 

 to my knowledge, been found with eggs in February ; but its 

 usual time of beginning to lay is early in April. In July, 

 August, and September, they are considered in good order for 

 shooting. 



The woodcock is properly a nocturnal bird, feeding chiefly 

 at night, and seldom stirring about till after sunset. At such 

 times, as well as in the early part of the morning, particularly 

 in spring, he rises, by a kind of spiral course, to a considerable 



