AMERICAN WOODCOCK 115 



the flying form seen dimly as it dashes through 

 the bending apple boughs into the darkness 

 away. The bird may have been pulling angle- 

 worms under the apple trees, for he is as fond 

 of this kind of bait as is the Sunday trout- 

 fisher. Mr. Longbill brings up in strange 

 places when on his nightly rambles, even visit- 

 ing the city gardens alongside some main 

 thoroughfare of the town. He may be said to 

 have some liking for civilization. Apparently 

 he is more fond of a country partially under 

 cultivation than of the solitary wastes yet un- 

 reclaimed. The Woodcock is rarely seen west 

 of the Mississippi except in a very few favored 

 sections. 



What becomes of these birds during the hot 

 days of July and August is an open question 

 with many sportsmen. This is the moulting 

 season, when it is probable that they leave the 

 lowland bogs for the cool air of the hills and 

 the never-failing springs which the ''dog 

 days' " heat cannot dry up. If so they show 

 their usual good sense. Some sportsmen^ — and 

 these mainly persons of veracity, that is, as 

 gunners and fishermen average (for when the 

 Wise Man says, ''All men are liars," it must 



