AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 1 79 



which is fastened a horse-hair noose put through a hole in a 

 peg fastened into the ground, to which a trigger is annexed ; 

 and in order to compel the Woodcock to walk into the trap, 

 an extended fence is made on each side by small sticks set 

 up close enough to prevent the bird passing between them. 

 These concentrate at the trap, so that in this funnel-shaped 

 fence the bird in feeding is made to pass through the narrow 

 passage, and is almost to a certainty caught by the legs. 



As the season advances and food begins to fail, by reason of 

 inclement and cold weather, the Woodcocks leave the interior ; 

 and approaching the shelter of the sea-coast and the neighbor- 

 ing marshes, they now become abundant, and are at such times 

 late in autumn killed in great numbers. These are also their 

 assembling points previous to their southern migrations, which 

 are performed in a desultory and irregular manner, their mo- 

 tions, as usual, being mostly nocturnal or in the twilight ; and 

 though many are now met with in the same low meadows and 

 marshes, they are brought together by common necessity, 

 and never move in concerted flocks. At this season their 

 movements are not betrayed by any note or call ; the vocal 

 powers of the species are only called into existence at the 

 period of propagation ; at other times they move and start to 

 wing in silence. The young run or wander off as soon as they 

 are hatched, are at this period covered with a brownish-white 

 down, and on being taken utter a slender bleat or clear and 

 long-drawn peep. 



This famous game-bird is common in the Maritime Provinces, 

 but is rarely found on the northern side of the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence. It is common also in Southern Ontario, but in the Mus- 

 koka district is rather rare. It is known to breed throughout its 

 Canadian range, and southward through the Middle States and 

 westward to the Plains. It winters in the Southern States. 



Note. — The European Woodcock (Scolopax rtisticold), a 

 much larger bird, occurs occasionally on this side of the Atlantic. 



