88 ON THE WING. 



Then he has such a wonderful knack of drawing it out 

 of the ground easily, quickly, and without apparent 

 motion, that the sportsman, should he be fortunate 

 enough to spy the operations of one of these birds, 

 unless he watches closely will never suspect that the 

 fellow is taking his dinner. 



This remarkable bird has, for his principal protec- 

 tion, very keen sight ; and his eyes, being set almost 

 on the top of his head, and standing out large and 

 full, give him a very extended range of vision, without 

 which he would be liable to be pounced upon in the 

 covert by foxes, minks, and other animals. His still 

 movements also serve as a protection, as well as his 

 color, the latter resembling that of the ground or the 

 bark of the surrounding trees. 



As previously stated, there is something that attaches 

 the experienced sportsman to this bird more strongly 

 than to any other, we might almost say, than to all 

 others combined. One reason is, that the woodcock 

 cannot be fully understood, no matter how closely he 

 may be studied, for at every season he develops new 

 traits of sagacity. Whether we call the woodcock, as 

 many do, at all seasons of the year a foolish, simple 

 bird, whose very simplicity accounts for the difficulty 

 of finding him, or whether we give him the appellation 

 of a very cunning bird, the experienced hunter well 

 knows that, from one or both causes, it is more diffi- 

 cult to judge correctly of his movements than of any 

 other game-bird that flies. Quail, partridges, and 

 other birds have a law unto themselves, and are true 

 to it, so that they can be calculated upon with tolera- 



