CHAPTER II. 
THE WOODCOCK 
(S colop ax rusticola ). 
“ In youth’s keen eye the livelong day was bright, 
The sun at morning and the stars at night, 
Alike, when first the bittern’s hollow bill 
Was heard, or woodcocks roamed the moonlight hill.” 
WOKDSWORTH. 
When, on the third Sunday in Lent, the clergyman is 
strenuously engaged in expounding the Gospel for the day 
to his congregation, and is seeking to explain, to the best 
of his ability, how the devils were driven out, he is sure to 
be addressing one true believer at the very least, and that 
will be the “ forester” of his district. ’Tis a bad sports¬ 
man that does not go to church on the third Sunday in 
Lent, though, sad to say, he will probably not be over- 
attentive to the parson’s discourse; for on that Sunday 
he will most likely be thinking of the little wood demons 
which he proposes to seek and drive out of cover on 
the following morning, namely, the Woodcocks! This 
especial Sunday is called by our sportsmen by the cant 
name of “ Woodcock Sunday,” and the portion of the 
Gospel set apart for that day is also—somewhat irre¬ 
verently, I allow—termed the “ Woodcock Gospel.” 
In fact, taking one year with another, the third Sunday 
in Lent is about the day on which the Woodcocks arrive. 
They are the favourite small game of the gunner, the 
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