: 
. BEN. RS Vet 43 
long, and its defcent is fo fudden, that it feems to 
fall like a ftone. ° A few moments after it reaches 
the ground it runs forward very faft, it {tops very. 
foon, raifes its head, and looks on every fide to 
be certain that no danger is near, before it 
plunges its bill into the earth. 
Though the Woodcock has large eyes, it is 
probable that it may not fee very well but at twi- 
light, for it flies the moft in the evening and at 
the dawn of the day. This inclination to fly at 
‘thofe feafons feems fo ftrong, that thofe which 
have been confined, regularly attempted a flight 
_ every evening and morning. 
When the nights are dark, it is very probable 
that the Woodcocks are ftill, but when the moon 
fhines they go about in fearch of food. 
Snares are laid for them, either at night or in the 
evening ; they are taken different ways by nets and by 
{fnares. They are fhot in marfhes, and near rivulets, 
A net fometimes is {tretched between two large 
trees, in the glades, and at the borders of woods, 
where they come or pafs upon the wing in the 
evening and morning. They are alfo taken upon 
the marfhes at night. 
‘The fowler lies hid near the rivulet or the 
marfh frequented by Woodcocks, and waits for 
them there: foon after the fun is fet, efpecially if - 
there 
