AMERICAN WOODCOCK 129 



of their range except during a few months of 

 spring and early summer in the north. With 

 the exception of one State there is no protection 

 whatever for Woodcocks in the South. 



They are certainly decreasing with terrible 

 rapidity. For the season just passed I am un- 

 able to find in a tolerably large acquaintance of 

 brush gunners one man whose total of Wood- 

 cocks was not materially less than in any former 

 season. My own score was less than half the 

 usual number, while of ruffed grouse I cap- 

 tured a half more than in any former year, and 

 I think this was a general condition of things 

 with the shooting fraternity in this section. 

 With all the hunters' demands upon him Mr. 

 Bonasa Umbellus is more than holding his own. 



Of course, in the case of the Woodcock or 

 any migratory bird, legislation by any one 

 State or section of the country can do little for 

 its preservation, so that everywhere bird lovers 

 and sportsmen alike must work together, and 

 that right soon, if they would save this noble 

 game bird from extinction in the not far distant 

 future. Brother sportsman, wherever you are, 

 will you lend a hand I 



