The American Woodcock 



321 



The gun for woodcock is the twelve-gauge 

 the quail-gun, and the same load answers for both 

 birds ; indeed, I once made twin loads answer for 

 both birds. The quail had gone to cover, from 

 which a cock and a quail rose almost side by side, 

 affording a seldom-granted double. 



Good cock-shooting is now almost a thing of 

 the past in many places where heavy bags used 

 to be the rule. The heaviest bag ever I saw was 

 sixty-odd to two guns in one day, scored by two 

 market hunters near Lake St. Clair. Walpole 

 Island, in the same water system, used to be a 

 famous cock ground. It is quite possible that a 

 belt of country a few miles wide and extending 

 entirely around Lake St. Clair, would contain as 

 many cock as any other area of equal mileage in 

 the North. Extensive drainage, backed by too 

 close shooting, has played havoc with leagues 

 upon leagues of what formerly were the strong- 

 holds of this choice game. 



