WOODCOCK SHOOTING. 261 



tractive, so that not only must the sportsman be patient and perse- 

 vering, but be must also be observing, and make use of his well 

 earned experience. Later in the season cock are to be found not 

 only in such places as have been indicated, but upon damp, springy 

 hill sides, where chestnuts are mixed with laurels and low ever* 

 greens. Indeed as the season lengthens out to November, such 

 hill sides supply these birds, with the most of their favorite food, 

 which they find hidden under fallen leaves. They are always 

 apt to be found where their food is most abundant. After this 

 month the annual migration occurs, and the birds silently steal 

 away singly, and in the night, to their winter quarters. 



The difference in the size of the male and female woodcock is 

 decidedly marked ; so much is this the case that warm contro- 

 versies have occurred between experienced sportsmen upon this 

 subject ; some maintaining that there are two distinct species of 

 the bird in this country. It was finally settled that the greater size 

 of the female had misled many observant sportsmen. Woodcock 

 make annual migrations in the spring and autumn, arriving in the 

 Middle States from the latter part of February or first week of 

 March, according as the season may be open or severe, and depart- 

 ing in the months of November and December. In the autumn, 

 migration, the birds that have recently arrived, are called " Flight'* 

 birds, and are distinguished by the feathers on the breast being 

 brighter in color than of those that have been lying in the feeding 

 ground for some time; the latter's breast color being decidedly 

 duller in hue. Many young cock are lost during the early freshets. 

 Sometimes the weather is dry and mild in the early part of spring, 

 and the woodcock hatching her brood is overtaken by rainy weath- 

 er, when the young are drowned, or, if unhatched, the eggs are 

 destroyed. Consequently, the sportsmen always desire a c(mtinued 

 dry spring, as it is especially favorable to the increase of all species 

 of game. The woodcock often feeds in the night, and persons 

 but slightly acquainted with their habits are astonished at discov- 

 ering in the morning, the amount of borings, covering the soft 

 ground in a favorite feeding place. In very dry weather woodcock 

 gather in the low wet swamps, while after a rain of a day or two's 



