20 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



Florida know to their cost that they do occur at in- 

 tervals. Frosts which merely chill the ground may 

 prevent the woodcock from feeding and so may force 

 them to congregate at a few open spots or warm spring 

 holes, where if found they can be readily killed, but 

 severe colds long continued are exceedingly destructive. 



In February, 1899, such a cold wave swept over 

 parts of the South, and its influence on bird life in 

 general was so interesting that I need not apologize 

 for quoting the gist of the observations made by Mr. 

 Arthur T. Wayne, of Mt. Pleasant, S. C. I give this 

 account* of the great cold wave of February 13 and 

 14, 1899, chiefly in his own words, omitting only the 

 technical names of the various species : 



"The cold wave which struck the coast of South 

 Carolina was the severest recorded for two hundred 

 years. On Monday, February 13, the thermometer 

 registered 14 above zero, with the ground covered 

 with snow from four to five inches deep on a level, 

 while drifts were two feet deep. This is a remarkable 

 occurrence for the coast region and to be seen scarcely 

 in a lifetime. On Tuesday, at 6:55 A.M., the ther- 

 mometer registered 6 above zero. This exceedingly 

 cold weather came upon us very suddenly. It was 

 sleeting all day Sunday, February 12, but toward mid- 

 night grew suddenly colder, and when morning 

 dawned the whole country was covered with snow. 

 The destruction of bird life caused by this cold wave 



*Auk, Vol. XVI, 1899, P. i97. 



