is any fuch bird in the iflaiid ; if they tried this experiment, how- 

 ever, I mull: own that I believe they would have fport m . 



Dr. Rein hold Forfter, F. R. S. who is an able naturalift, in- 

 formed me, that the fowlers in the neighbourhood of Dantzick 

 kill many woodcocks about St. John's day (or Midfummer) in 

 the following manner, and that they continue to do fo till the 

 month of Auguft. 



They wait on the fide of fbme of the extenfive woods in that 

 neighbourhood, before day-break, for the return of the woodcock 

 from his feeding in the night-time, and always depend upon 

 having a very good chance of thus mooting many of them. 



The Dantzickers, however, might be employed the whole 

 fummer near thefe woods in the day-time, without ever feeing 

 fuch a bird ; and it feems therefore not improbable, that it arifes 

 from our not waiting for them at twilight or day-break, that 

 they are never obferved by Engliflimen in the fummer. If this 

 bird mould, however, be feen in the night, it is immediately 

 fuppofed to be an owl, which a woodcock does not differ much 

 from in its flight. 



» I would afk thofe who will probably laugh at the very idea of fuch 

 fport (which I do not, however, abfolutely infure), whether, if I was to 

 fend them to any part of the Britiih coaft to catch the true anchovy, or 

 runny fifh, they would not fuppofe equally that it was a fool's errand. 



Notwithstanding, however, this incredulity, I can produce the autho- 

 rity of both Ray (Syn. Pifc. p. 107.) and Mr. Pennant (Brit. Zool. ill. 

 p. 34. 36.) that the true anchovy is caught in the fea not far from Chef- 

 ter, and the tunny fiih on the coaft of Argylefhire, together with the her- 

 rings, where they are called mackrel Jlure. 



Is it not amazing, however, that a fiih of fuch a fize as the tunny 

 fhould never have been heard of, even by the Scotch naturalift Sir Robert 

 Sibbald ? 



Few will fuppofe, that the largeft of the Britiih Groufe (commonly 

 called Black Game) are to be found but at a great diftance from London ; 

 vet I have myfelf within the fpace of two hours feen two different broods 

 of thefe birds in the neighbourhood of the New Foreft in Hamplhire. 



To 



