The Woodcock. 305 



Still later in tlie season tliey may be met with in the more 

 deej) and sheltered wood swamps, where the insects, larvae, and 

 earth-worms, protected, in a measure, from the biting frosts of 

 the more exposed situations, are enabled to remain near the sur- 

 face during the severest weather ; here it is that the sportsman 

 will discover the perforations or borings of this lonely bird. 



The warm and almost impenetrable cedar swamps are also favo- 

 rite resorts for such Woodcocks as remain in the north during^ the 

 cold weather, as the springs in such situations seldom freeze, and 

 there is always to be found a scanty supply of suitable food even 

 in the depth of winter. These birds, however, like the snipe, are 

 very uncertain in their movements, being governed a good deal 

 by the state of the weather, and other similar causes. 



"Woodcocks are very abundant in Jersey and Delaware, par- 

 ticularly after a dry spell of weather, as they congregate there from 

 the interior of the country, and spread themselves over the wide 

 extent of meadow lands and marshy cripples so congenial to their 

 habits, and which are so general in the lower portions of these 

 States. Cock-shooting in these districts is equally if not more 

 laborious than Snipe-shooting, more particularly if pursued, as is, 

 we may say, universally the custom, during the oppressively hot 

 weather of July and August. In wandering over these extensive 

 marshes, or, as they are vulgarly called, mashes, it is necessary 

 for the sportsman to exercise considerable dexterity in stepping 

 from tussock to tussock ; otherwise he will often be doomed to a 

 sudden plunge into the filthy oozes that surround him on every 

 side. The excessive heat of the weather is anothor strong objec- 

 tion to the shooting of Woodcocks in the month of July, as the 

 heat is often so oppressive that the birds will spoil in the course of 

 a few hours after being shot, and, in some instances, even before 

 leaving the field for the day. As for hoping to keep the birds over 

 a day or two, to carry home, such a thing is quite impossible, and 

 the sportsman, consequently, is forced to throw them away some- 

 times when only a day old, if he cannot procure ice to pack them 

 in, which artiQle, by the by, is not always to be ha,d in th$ 

 country. 



The Woodcocks and Snipes are very closely related, and are 

 classified under the genus /Sco^q^aj; by some authors, while others 

 think a separation necessary. The generic name is from the 

 Greek " micropteryx^^'' " that has small wings." 



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