124 FEATHERED GAME 



is even said that at times be watches an enemy 

 behind him so closely as to dart headlong into 

 a tree trunk and kill himself. This statement 

 probably belongs under the heading, '' Interest- 

 ing if true." Such cases are extremely rare. 

 Most of us have too firm a faith in the bird's 

 ability to take care of himself to believe much 

 in this theory. 



With fear and trembling I approach the 

 statement I am about to make. Many fierce 

 arguments have been provoked and much scorn 

 and contumely have been heaped upon me be- 

 cause of it — but here goes : it is not commonly 

 known among sportsmen that the American 

 Woodcock will sometimes take to a tree when 

 disturbed. I have seen two birds do so, and 

 (dare I confess it?) I shot the first one as he 

 sat. It was my first Woodcock and I needed 

 him ; also I was but fifteen years old — let these 

 palliate the offense; moreover, the ethics of 

 sport in that section did not then forbid the 

 shooting of a roosting bird when it could be 

 done. I know of six other instances, in each 

 case the bird unshot at and unhurt, where reput- 

 able sportsmen have seen the same thing. It 

 was in one case a woodcock gunner of long ex- 



