Whither they go at this time is a profound 

 mystery. In places where there were a 

 dozen birds yesterday there are none to-day; 

 and when you do stumble upon one it is 

 generally in a spot where you never found 

 one before, and where you will probably not 

 find another, though you haunt the spot for 

 years. This is the more remarkable in view 

 of the fact that the woodcock, like most other 

 birds, has certain favored spots to which he 

 returns, to nest or feed or sleep, year after year. 

 Occasionally at this season you may find 

 a solitary bird on a dry southern hillside, or 

 on the sunny edge of the big woods. He 

 is pitiful now to behold, having scarcely any 

 feathers left to cover him, and can only flut- 

 ter or run away at your approach. If you 

 have the rare fortune to surprise him now / 

 \vhen he does not see you, you will note a : 

 curious thing. He stands beside a 

 stump or brake where the sun can 

 strike his bare back 

 fairly, as if he were 

 warming himself at 

 nature's fireplace. His 



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