226 



LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



INGENUITY OF THE HEN IN CONCEALING HER YOUNG. 



The hen woodcock, like the partridge, exhibits great ingenuity 

 in her efforts to conceal her young and to draw off the sportsman 

 or his dog from the spot occupied by the nest, or, perhaps, little 

 brood. She flutters along the ground, dragging her body heavily 

 after her, as if wounded and incapable of flight, until the dog 

 is nearly on her, when she makes off again to a short distance 

 and repeats the same manoeuvres as before. When she has suc- 

 ceeded in enticing her pursuers a considerable distance from the 

 starting-point, she suddenly takes wing, greatly to the surprise of 

 all, and flies off in beautiful style, and in a very short time returns 

 by a circuitous route to the spot where she abandoned her off- 

 spring. 



