AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 55 



on the wing unalarmed, they rarely elevate them- 

 selves above the tops of the neighbouring trees, and 

 are seldom seen before sunset or after sunrise, un- 

 less disturbed in 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 and being 

 exposed to the glaring light of day, yet, in searching 

 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, these birds travel singly, 

 but are followed in rapid succession by others, fol- 

 lowing in each other's wake : consequently, where one 

 day not a single specimen could be seen, the day after 

 they will abound. This has given rise to the erro- 

 neous 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 feeding~place. From what 

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



