persevering dogs, who thoroughly understand their business, and will go round and under every rock and blackthorn; for so indisposed are cocks to be disturbed out of these favourite spots, that they will often settle within a few yards from where they took their flight, and it is only by the perseverance of good dogs that they can be forced to quit them, so as to afford a chance to the sportsman; and sometimes this is but an indifferent one, as they fly so low between the rocks and bushes, that the shot is quite a doubtful one.

No bird lies closer than a cock, or is more difficult to flush when he is in a cover where he intends remaining, of the nature I have just described. In fact, I have seen a spaniel catch one before he would rise, although he was for some time hunting very busily close to him, before he winded, and rushed in upon, and caught him. At other times they are very easily flushed; but in these respects they are influenced by the wind and weather, on some days being so excessively wild, that they cannot be approached within shot, except you go down wind upon them; and these occasions arise when a change of weather is about to take place, especially after a few days' frost, when a turn in the wind arrives indicating a thaw. But generally through the winter, i. e. during the months of November, December, and January, they will lie well. The first two months are, how

ever, the best, although I have sometimes had excellent sport as late as February; but this depends entirely upon the nature of the season and of the country, as the peculiar weather which brings cocks to one place drives them away from another.

In England, Ireland, and in the northern and inland parts of Scotland, the cocks which arrive in November remain there so long as the weather continues mild and open; but as soon as a severe frost sets in, and extends beyond three days, the cocks move off to milder quarters; so that the western part of Scotland which adjoins the seacoast is, during severe weather, a very favourite place of resort for cocks. The snow never lying long on this coast, nor on the adjacent grounds, nor on those sides of the covers facing the southeast, and the covers being filled with numerous springs, which are never frozen, may be the united causes of their attracting cocks in severe weather, their instinct apparently directing them to the most suitable localities.

During a severe frost, I have seen as many as forty cocks in a day; nine out of ten of them in those parts of the cover which faced the southeast. There are two obvious reasons for this preference: viz. the small comparative quantity of snow to that which is found on the other aspects; and the warmth derived from the morning and midday sun. In fact, during the short

days, the covers which have a northern aspect scarcely get any sun, and the snow lies, notwithstanding the sea air, till a thaw arrives. But even when there is no frost, I have invariably remarked, that covers with a northwest aspect are not much frequented by cocks, although apparently in every other respect suitable. Amidst the open heather, where the ground is broken, and there are a few springs, I have frequently found them. In fact, I believe a very large proportion of cocks drop amongst the heather upon the mountains, in springy ground, on their first arrival, and remain there until the severe weather drives them down into the covers.

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I have already recommended spaniels for this sport, and I am convinced no dogs are so suitable; in fact, they will find more game of any sort than other description of dog, and are most agreeable to shoot to, being such vivacious and lively companions; but they must be thoroughly broken, and kept well in subjection, or they become very mischievous and destructive of sport. An old pointer that you cannot spoil, and who will keep close to you, is an excellent accompaniment to spaniels, and will point many a cock which you would otherwise have passed. Spaniels, to do their work thoroughly well and efficiently, ought to be attended by a beater who can manage and control them, and go with them through

thick places as far as it is practicable, as there are many steep, rocky and precipitous places through which no man can pass, and which can only be thoroughly investigated by first-rate spaniels. And when you arrive at these you must always give your dogs time to work; if you hurry them you may pass many a cock.

In covers which can be beaten by men, they of course are preferable to any dogs, with one retriever to find your wounded and dead birds. This method is, however, expensive, but the advantage is great; you find almost every bird, and you are almost certain of having a fair shot within a moderate distance; which is not always the case with spaniels, as they frequently flush cocks out of distance. This, however, in a wild country, is unavoidable, as there are so many places which are inaccessible to the sportsman within shot. He has, therefore, no alternative but to send his spaniels into them, and take his chance of getting a shot; which can be generally managed if there be two guns, by one keeping with the spaniels, the other going forward in the direction to which you are beating. But if you are going down wind, the second gun had better keep in the rear, as nine birds out of ten will go up wind; so that, generally speaking, the second gun will have the best chance. When your dogs flush a cock out of distance down wind, imme

diately stand still, and in all probability he will come straight as a line back towards you; when you can take him either as he approaches, or let him pass you. Either is an easy shot, but the former is the easier of the two, if you have acquired the habit of shooting birds as they come towards you.

The best shot for woodcocks is No. 7. with No. 6. in the second barrel for long shots, or for other game. With No. 7., if you merely get a glimpse of the cock through the thickest cover, and hold right, you will be sure to kill. With large shot you may easily miss him; and there is no compensating advantage for the use of large shot, as you seldom get long shots in cover; and, moreover, when you take a small bird full with it, you terribly disfigure him; which is an annoyance to good sportsmen, who always desire to kill their birds clean A good marker in cock shooting is invaluable, as cocks frequently drop in such singular places, that you would never think of looking for them if you had not been told where they had dropped; and also because, when you search in the right direction, you might also, in beating at the usual place, occasionally pass them if you had not known exactly where they had been marked down; as, after being shot at, they will sometimes lie until they are almost trod upon before they will rise, and therefore very close beating is requisite; and