44 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



the air is stifling, and the mosquitoes are in swarms about 

 him, while his dog is nearly exhausted from his efforts 

 to find the half -grown birds. 



Where the law permits this summer shooting, some 

 feign to enjoy it, because there is nothing else to shoot; 

 others and there are many of them are drawn forth by 

 the market price of the early birds; while still others 

 claim that in certain sections, unless hunted before leav- 

 ing their breeding-grounds, there can be no shooting, as 

 the birds do not return, but, when through their moult, 

 start on their southern flight which will prove true in 

 the near future, if this pernicious habit is not abolished, 

 for there will be no woodcock to return. 



The uncertainty of our seasons is another very excel- 

 lent reason why July cock-shooting should everywhere 

 be abolished. One year the season may be early, and 

 favorable to their nesting, hatching, and rearing their 

 broods; the next year the heavy snows may retard their 

 early migrations and nesting, and later the floods destroy 

 the nests or young, so that the second broods are not half- 

 grown by July, and are in no way suitable for gun or 

 table; but, supposing that July of each year finds the 

 young well grown, still the habit of hunting them at this 

 season is disastrous to the race. 



These are happy nursery days for the young wood- 

 cock, and should be guarded by every true lover of 

 Nature. 



Many a young ruffed grouse meets his death at this 

 season, for "shooting woodcock," by men who never 

 shoot them later, is simply an excuse for being in sum- 

 mer covers where many a fledgeling grouse helps to fill 

 the bag. 



Someone may tell you that lie never shoots half- 

 grown birds; but "to err is human," and when a bird 

 flushes in thick cover before the setter's point or the 



