WOODCOCK-SHOOTING. QI 



How the sharp ring is produced. 



The opinion held by many sportsmen, that wood- 

 cock make their peculiar ring with the tips of their 

 wing-feathers in flying, I do not entirely agree with. 

 I am inclined to think that the ring is simply the 

 utterance by the bird of a sharp cry when startled ; 

 and the fact that they do not make this noise at the 

 moulting season is not, in my opinion, sufficient evi- 

 dence that the sound is not thus produced. I believe 

 that the withholding of the sound at this time arises 

 more from indirect natural causes, incident to and 

 connected with their change of feathers. Just as the 

 barn-yard fowl at the time of incubation acts in a 

 quiet, unnatural manner, and usually goes through a 

 partial moulting process, from her long confinement 

 to the nest. 



I once had a good chance of testing this matter 

 fully. While hunting woodcock one day, my dog 

 pointed, and at the command "Go," dived into the 

 tall grass where the cock had taken shelter from an 

 October frost. Not seeing the bird rise, I supposed the 

 dog must have come upon a rabbit instead. But, after 

 a little tussle in the grass and briers, Dash appeared 

 with a large woodcock in his mouth, which he brought 

 to hand, and which I took from him unharmed. Hav- 

 ing no conveniences for keeping the bird through the 

 day, I wrung his neck. Had I thought to cut off the 

 end feathers from his wings and let him fly, afterwards 

 shooting him, I might have settled the question in a 

 practical manner. 



