34 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



In the dells and covers where woodcock breed, they 

 are birds of curious ways, and it is in such places, with 

 no evil intent in one' s heart, that he can best learn their 

 nature, and get at those secrets of their forest lives 

 which are ^beyond his reach when, with dog and gun, he 

 beats the covers in autumn months. 



The arrival of woodcock upon their breeding-grounds 

 varies with the season and the sections of country 

 through which they scatter. They leave their winter 

 resorts, where for a short time they have enjoyed a 

 southern sun, and commence their northward pilgrimage 

 late in January or early in February, advancing with the 

 spring- tide, until they hnd grounds suited to their 

 habits. In their most southern grounds they breed as 

 early as the last of February, and in their more northern 

 as late as April or May, depending upon the season. 



Their breeding in the Southern States is rare, if the 

 season be favorable for early migration, as they prefer 

 grounds farther north; but the season being cold and. 

 backward, some make short migrations, and go at once 

 to breeding. Again, there may be a few broods raised 

 near their winter habitat, on account of the inability of 

 the old birds to accompany their tribe; so everywhere 

 may the woodcock be considered a migratory bird, as the 

 isolated cases of their breeding in the far South are the 

 exceptions. 



In sections where the woodcock breed as early as Feb- 

 ruary, they may rear a second brood; but in their northern 

 homes they do not, unless their first nesting is destroyed, 

 when they go to work at once to repair the injury. 



Usually reaching the Middle States in March, the 

 New England States in April, this desire to return so 

 early to their breeding-grounds often meets with a cold 

 reception. The great storm of March, 1888, was, no doubt, 

 the shroud of many a woodcock. 



