300 The Woodcock, 



attendant on this sport, it has many ardent admirers, who, in spite 

 of wind and weather, cold and rain, mud and mire, are, at each 

 succeeding spring and autumn, found ready at their posts, all 

 eagerness to commence the fray ; and, at the close of every season 

 €ach one has a long list of adventures to relate, not perhaps — 



" Of moving accidents by flood and field, 

 Of hair-breadth ' scapes i*^ the immiaent deadly breach ; " 



but of many mishaps and hardships encountered during the cam- 

 paign on the filthy marshes, the most of which, though grievous 

 at the time, in reality added zest to the sport, and will ever remain 

 imbedded on the memory of the true sportsman as playful sou- 

 venirs by which to recall the scenes of much past enjoyment. 



THE WOODCOCK. 



MiCROPTERA Americana, (Audubon.) 

 ScoLOPAx Minor, (Wilson.) 



The "Woodcock arrives in Canada in the latter part of March, 

 and immediately commences to make preparations for breeding. 

 It is a bird so nocturnal in its habits that it may be quite abun- 

 dant in a neighbourhood and still its presence not be suspected, 

 unless by the sportsman who knows all the lurking places of the 

 game in his vicinity. During the greater portion of the day they 

 remain concealed in secluded thickets or marshes, and only come 

 out to feed in the wide open places during the night, at sunset, or 

 early dawn. They breed in the spring and summer in Canada 

 and the Northern States, and spend the winter in the south. Wilson 



