CHAPTER VII. 



SHOOTING THE WOODCOCK. 



IN the estimation of sportsmen in this country, 

 as well as in Europe, the woodcock is regarded 

 as one of the very highest game-birds. To 

 make a good bag of woodcock is a feat to be 

 proud of. The bird is generally scarce, even on 

 the best ground, and in its most favorite haunts 

 it is difficult to find and kill, and is one of the 

 richest morsels on the table that the woods and 

 fields supply. The woodcock of America slightly 

 differs from that of Europe in size and markings, 

 but the variations are of no moment to the sports- 

 man. Upon this continent the woodcock winters 

 in the Southern States, and in regions still further 

 south, and comes north in spring, remaining till 

 the ground freezes late in the fall. The bird 

 breeds in Canada and Nova Scotia, as well as in 

 northern and middle States of the Union, East 

 and West ; and it sometimes rears two broods 

 in a season. This is not, however, commonly 

 the case, but it is certain that when the old 



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