OUTDOORS 



able distance, as ruffed grouse or quail will 

 fly when hunted persistently. 



In color the woodcock is most richly plu- 

 maged in golden brown, with darker markings 

 on the back. His head is round and large, 

 his neck thick, and his bill is only a trifle 

 shorter than the bill of the jack-snipe. The 

 female is the larger of the two. From five to 

 seven ounces for a full-grown bird is fair 

 weight, although exceptionally heavy birds 

 are occasionally brought to bag which will 

 weigh eight ounces and over. The European 

 woodcock will run to twelve ounces and is 

 much larger than his American cousin. A 

 true game-bird, the woodcock has an aristo- 

 cratic air about him. All true game-birds are 

 as cleanly put up and handsome as blooded 

 racers. Nature doesn't build on guesswork 

 principles. 



In the days of Lucullus and other Roman 

 epicures the long-billed feeders were in great 

 demand; and as long as the last woodcock is 

 alive he will be relentlessly hunted. In the 

 south many are killed by fire-hunting at night. 

 An iron basket is filled with blazing pitch- 

 pine knots carried by one man, while the 

 100 



