BIRDS OF XHW VORK 



299 



like a bird. If disturbed, he ik)1)s up, as it discharged from a catapult, lo 

 the tops of the bushes; then darts away in a horizontal course, and (luickh- 

 drops again among the bushes. The Woodcock's flight is rapid and accom- 

 jjanied by a whistling, whirring sound, but not so resonant as that of the 

 Grouse and Bobwhitc. It lies well to the dog 

 and when hunted rareh" leaves the locality 

 where it was startled. Thus the whole brood 

 is often secured by the sportsman and none 

 iire left to repopulate the coverts. The wood- 

 cock's migrator\' habit has preserved it thus 

 far from extermination, but it sorely needs 

 the most efficient protection if it is to escape 

 the fate of the Heath hen, Wild turkey, and 

 Passenger pigeon. 



Woodcock begin to breed from the ist to 

 the loth of Api il, and the eggs are almost alwavs 

 laid before the 2 5th of that month. During the 

 mating season and until the period of incu- 

 bation is nearlv finished, the cock performs 

 his peculiar song and aerial evolutions during 

 the early evening and often in the morning. 

 Springing from the gromid, he ascends in a 

 spiral course, whistling or chippering or piping 

 as he mounts in the air until a considerable 

 hight is reached when he swee])s about ii^ 

 wide circles and descends again, uttering all 

 the while a mellow and rapidly increasing 

 chipper, or warble, vmtil the gnnmd is reached, when he lowers his head and 

 cocks his tail and utters a harsh, nasal pcenk, or blatk, accompanied with an 

 vmcouth waving motion of the body. Then he looks about expectantly 

 and if his mate does not appear, the serenade is repeated, often as late as 

 9 or lo "'clock in the evening. 



■-Lor.) 

 riiulu l.v Tabor 



