OF NEW ENGLAND. 391 



fore the first of June, and mature in about eighteen cla5'S. The 

 young leave tlie nest immediately, and find the greater part of 

 their own food, though the hen sometimes offers them a few- 

 morsels. At this time, the latter part of June, and indeed 

 through the rest of the summer, the 3'oung broods commonly 

 frequent low, moist grounds in thick coverts, where food is 

 abundant and water at hand, and there they are sure to be met 

 with in a search for summer Woodcock. Should a brood be 

 disturbed, while still with the hen, the latter feigns lameness, 

 and decoj's the intruder away, suffering him to put his hand 

 almost upon her, uttering a clucking of anxiety, until she 

 thinks him at a safe distance from her young, when she darts 

 off" on the wing, her chicks having meantime hidden, and leaves 

 the deluded victim of this pretty ruse to wonder alone. Some- 

 times, she even bristles up and attacks the off"ender, as well 

 as she can, and much like a brooding hen. 



If the first nest be destroyed, a second hatching is often en- 

 tered upon. The young increase rapidly in size, and by the 

 first of September arc two-thirds grown. Until then they re- 

 main more or less together in a covey, and, if undisturbed, 

 even do so until the following spring. AVhile young, they 

 suflTer severely from exposure to unusual weather, especially to 

 cold and heavy rains, which are very destructive. Moreover, a 

 species of wood-tick attacks them in summer, inserting its tri- 

 angular head beneath the skin. It is said to be especial!}' dan- 

 gerous, when it attaches itself to the bird's head or neck, l)ut, 

 at all events, many birds sutler from it. They are also often 

 infested with lice, and are occasionally troubled by a kind of 

 bott-worm, which resembles a large maggot, and which must 

 be fatal, since it reaches the flesh. 



In the first part of the shooting-season, w'hether it be Sep- 

 tember or October, tolerable sport may be had with the birds 

 over a gun, if they have not been disturbed previousl}', and 

 if they are abundant and in passable woods, though in the 

 wilderness or rough forest the}- can only be shot while sta- 

 tionary, as the woods are usually too thick and encumbered to 

 allow of shooting at them on the wing. In such placos, or 



