^2 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



to trace their eourse, and again wheeling about in the 

 heavens, as if they were creatures of extraordinary 

 momentary impulses; one instant, with speed, dashing 

 off to the right, and in the next moment returning 

 with equal velocity. Not so with woodcock ; they very 

 seldom take flight during the glare of daylight unless 

 disturbed, and then it is short, and only sufficient to 

 avoid, if possible, the intruder a second time disturb- 

 ing their privacy. When on the wing unalarmed, they 

 rarely elevate themselves above the tops of the neigh- 

 bouring trees, and are seldom seen before sunset or 

 after sunrise, unless driven from their bowery, shady 

 retreats. The descriptions of ground which they 

 prefer are moist bottoms, close-covered woods of 

 second-growth timber, and evergreen shrubs, or dry 

 ridges of maple, oak, and beech, where they turn over 

 the decaying leaves in search of insects. Although, as 

 I have stated, these birds have a strong dislike to 

 taking flight in the glaring light of day, yet, in search- 

 ing for them, you will always find more success attend 

 your pursuit upon those declivities that receive the 

 warm, genial rays of the sun. In spring, when the 

 woodcock are on their migratory journey north from 

 their winter residence, they travel singly, but are 

 followed in rapid succession by others : consequently, 

 where one day not a single specimen could be seen, 

 the day after they will abound. This has given, rise to 

 the erroneous impression that they go in flocks ; but 

 during many years' experience I never saw over two or 

 three on the wing at the same time, and then it 

 occurred through the birds having paired, or two or 

 more being flushed .from a favourite haunt. From 

 what I can learn, I am led to believe that Nova 



