158 HISTORY OF THE 



sitive to the touch that by it the presence of worms in the soft 

 earth at a depth of three inches is readily detected. This is a 

 very voracious bird, and when kept in confinement requires 

 constant attention and a large supply of food. It soon discov- 

 ers and draws out every worm in the ground; and such as are 

 provided for it are consumed in incredible quantities. It can 

 in time be induced to feed on bread and milk, of which it will 

 also consume an enormous quantity in twenty-four hours. The 

 voracity of this species is evidently one of the occasions of its 

 unsocial character. For the table the Woodcock is highly 

 esteemed by epicures, and always commands a high price in the 

 markets of our large cities. It is particularly sought for during 

 the early part of the season, although birds taken at that time 

 are much inferior in many respects to those procured later in 

 autumn. 



"The flight of this species is very peculiar. When flushed in 

 its retreats, it rises to the height of the bushes or undergrowth, 

 and quickly drops behind them again, usually running a short 

 distance as soon as it touches the ground. Yery little force is 

 required to kill it, but, as it presents itself as a mark only for a 

 moment, no other than a practiced sportsman will be successful. 

 As it rises, the action of its wings causes a whistling sound. 

 When found in open meadow land, however, it is comparatively 

 easily shot, as it always gives warning by this whistling sound 

 of its wings and seldom rises higher than a man's head, skim- 

 ming over the ground with a slow and steady flight to a short 

 distance, when it settles again in the grass. But among bushes 

 and thickets its course is at first indirect and unsteady, and un- 

 like the flight of any other game; springing rapidly from the 

 ground, it rises perpendicularly until it clears the tops of the 

 trees or bushes; its flight then becomes more steady, but the 

 bird is by that time usually out of reach, or only, to be hit by 

 sportsmen of experience and cool judgment. 



"The call note of the Woodcock is a short 'Quack,' but this 

 is not often heard except in the spring, when during the love 

 season the male is said to have what may be considered its song. 

 Towards dusk it mounts in the air, uttering peculiar whistling 



