156 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Summer cock shooting, when the mercury stands among the 

 nineties', and in swampy thickets where mosquitoes and flies are 

 swarming in myriads, cannot possibly be compared to autumn 

 shooting of the same bird. In the former season, we have it 

 hardly two-thirds grown, often becoming tainted before we reach 

 home, while in the latter we find it a far more difficult object to 

 bring down, much more puzzling in its flights, and worthy of the 

 sportsman's skill. 



About the middle of August, the Woodcock leave their old 

 haunts in low wet localities, apparently almost in a mass, to seek 

 higher and more mountainous sections, where they can pass un- 

 disturbed their moulting season, and to remain until early frosts 

 drive them to more sheltered and warmer feeding grounds. " It is 

 believed by many that they take to the corn-fields to moult, but 

 we think it safe to say they are only attracted thither in wet 

 seasons for their usual food. We have shot them in such places 

 quite frequently in July and the first of August, but have always 

 noticed the ground was moist enough at the time to admit of their 

 boring in search of worms, the larvse of insects, etc. 



As has been noticed, the birds retire to the uplands to moult, 

 but it is very probable that they descend at evening to their feed- 

 ing grounds where the earth is soft and can be probed with ease, 

 and there spend the night, retiring again to the hills at break of 

 day. Their migrations are performed by night. In this connec- 

 tion, it may be mentioned that the Woodcock, during their migra- 

 tions, pursue a direct course, no obstacle seemingly being able to 

 deflect them from their fine of flight. On three distinct occasions 

 have we observed them at dusk flying through the streets of New 

 York in some of the most populous districts, and others have made 

 like observations. They fly low and swiftly over the country 

 singly, or in loose twos or threes, and morning always finds them 

 in their favorite haunts. Whether they fly during the whole night 

 or not is undetermined, but it is probable that unless a sudden and 

 severe frost hastens them on beyond their wonted speed, they take 

 it leisurely, stopping and feeding on the route. 



Setter dogs seem to be the favorites for woodcocking. The 

 nature of the ground where the birds are found, renders the use of 

 the pointer disagreeable to both the dog and the man, as the tan- 



