WOODCOCK 29 
land. In this large area, which includes a considerable 
portion of the summer range of the woodcock, shoot- 
ing lasts for from one to two and a half months, begin- 
ning from September 15 to November 1 in different 
States, and ending November 15 to January 1. The 
abolition of the barbarous practice of spring and sum- 
mer shooting and the shortening of the open season 
has resulted in this encouraging increase in the number 
of the birds. 
