THE PURSUIT OF. THE WOODCOCK. 



3i; 



cock, gave it its liberty, after fastening a copper ring to its leg. The 

 following year he recognised, by the help of this mark, the bird 

 which had formerly been his captive. 



During ten months of the year the Woodcock is mute; but when the 

 early leaves begin to bud it is gifted with a feeble Q-d^—pitt-fiitt-corr ! 



The plumage of the Woodcock is remarkable for the harmony 

 of its shades ; it is a happy mixture of brown, russet, grey, black, 

 and white. It is not an unusual thing to meet with Woodcocks en- 

 tirely of the latter — albinos of their kind. Others are arrayed in an 

 Isabelle-coloured plumage ; but white, with grey or brown mottlings, 

 are their principal peculiarities. 



The Woodcock is very clean in its habits; for it invariably plumes 

 and dresses its feathers twice a day. At morning and evening they 

 can be seen wending their course in rapid flight towards rivulets 

 or springs to bore for insects, quench their thirst, or to arrange their 

 toilette. 



This Bird is found in almost all the departments of France, but 

 principally in the Ain and the Isere. We need hardly say that they are 

 sought after with an eagerness that no obstacle seems to discourage. 

 One can scarcely imagine the pitch of enthusiasm some of our sports- 

 men possess for pursuit of the Woodcock. They will walk for ten or 

 twelve hours in the mud, leave shreds of their garments hanging on 

 every bush and bramble they pass, exercise all their ingenuity in 

 manoeuvring and cunning, and, as a recompense for all these exer- 

 tions, perhaps not get a shot. This is a short compendium of the 

 results often enjoyed by the sportsman when in pursuit of Woodcock. 



The chief difficulty in obtaining these birds is caused by the 

 swampy densely wooded places they frequent. Motionless and mute 

 when secreted in the thickest bushes, they emit but little scent. The 

 dog, which ranges about in every direction, scratched and torn by 

 thorns and briars, disheartened with such laborious and unprofitable 

 work, discovers at last the slightest taint on the air, and " draws." 

 As soon as the sportsman sees or knows that his dog is " pointing," 

 he advances quietly, and, judging as well as he can of the locality 

 of the bird, places himself in the best position to obtain a shot. 

 (Plate X.) If he misses his aim, all his labour has been for nothing ; 

 even should the sportsman be successful in marking where the game 

 has alighted, the same trouble has to be repeated. If ultimately the 

 Woodcock succumbs, it will not be till it has thoroughly fatigued its 

 persecutors.* 



* From the above description of Woodcock shooting it is evident the author 

 is not an enthusiastic sportsman. — Ed. 



