
44 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
there be a gentle wind from the fouth, or fouth, 
weft, they always appear one at a time, or one g 
two together, and alight near the water, and th 
fowler is almoft fure to fhoot them; but this q 
not fo certain a method of taking them, as { 
placing of fprings or fnares in the paths. 
On each fide of the {pring or fnare the pathy 
{topped or filled with ftones or bufhes; th 
Woodcock, who always follows the path, anj 
never likes to rife from the ground to get oy 
any thing’ in its way, walks upon the {nare; ; 
foon as it is touched the fnare fprings up, and th 
bird is caught, either by the neck or the leg, ip 
the noofe, and hung in the air. The Woodcot 
caught in this manner flutters very much. 
fowler fhould vifit his fnares more than once in 
night, left the fox fhould take the birds, for hei 
very fly and very induftrious, and can hear 
flapping of their wings at a diftance, and fom 
times he will go to thefe fnares, one after anothe, 
and carry away the Woodcocks, and bury th 
in different places until he may have occafion 
‘them. 
In meadows where there are no paths, furrow 
are fometimes turned up, that the Woodcock 
may walk along them in fearch of worms, ail 
{nares are laid in thefe furrows. 
T 

