306 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



of an intruder. The soft rustling of the leaves, the 

 occasional snapping of a dry twig, and the sound of 

 the heavy footfall rouse him from his doze or his 

 day dream. He moves sideways beneath the spread- 

 ing leaves of a tuft of skunk cabbage, and with head 

 turned on one side, and great eyes spread to their wid- 

 est, watches for the approaching form. Once in a 

 while something may cause him to take the alarm 

 and dart away before it is within sight ; but usually he 

 lies close, and when he rises it is near at hand. He 

 springs from the ground uttering a shrill, twittering 

 whistle and twists about in his upward flight to dodge 

 the branches which spread in a network above him, 

 until he has topped the undergrowth, and then darts 

 off in a straight line for fifty or a hundred yards, to 

 plunge once more into his beloved cover. 



The dog is a most important auxiliary in woodcock 

 shooting. A very few sportsmen employ cocker or 

 field spaniels, which are trained to range close to the 

 'gun, and to give tongue as soon as they strike the 

 scent, thus warning the shooter of the proximity of 

 the bird and preparing him for its possible rising. 

 But most men use the setter or pointer. A good wood- 

 cock dog should work close; that is, within sight of 

 the gun. Often where the undergrowth is very thick, 

 it becomes necessary to attach a bell to the dog's col- 

 lar, so that if it pass out of sight for a few moments 

 its whereabouts may still be known by the sound. 



Late in November you will still find a few birds, 

 and at this time they will be lusty and strong of wing, 



