114 FEATHERED GAME 



often happens in things of sport, the pleasures 

 of anticipation were greater than those of real- 

 ization, for when the morrow came I walked all 

 day and although there were evidences aplenty 

 of the presence of Woodcock, I found but one 

 bird and got but one shot which was beauti- 

 fully missed. (0, yes, I miss one now and 

 then!) 



But I must also mention a newer and more 

 original method as developed by a friend — a 

 practice not much in vogue as yet, but perhaps 

 fraught with great possibilities. This gunner 

 was on a ledge among our outer islands shoot 

 ing ''coots" late in October, when he saw a 

 strange bird coming to his decoys. After some 

 staring at the newcomer he awoke to the situa- 

 tion in time to send a charge of number two 

 shot after him and succeeded in killing a fine 

 Woodcock. I mention this as the only instance 

 which I have known of a Woodcock being killed 

 over decoys. 



In his moonlight travels the Woodcock is apt 

 to visit the cornfields or the orchards, even com- 

 ing into the farmer's dooryard. When cross- 

 ing his lawn after dark the granger may chance 

 to hear the rolling whistle and mayhap dodges 



