170 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



Still later in the season they may be met with in the more 

 deep and sheltered wood swamps, where the insects, larv«, and 

 earth-worms, protected, in a measure, from the biting frosts of 

 the more exposed situations, are enabled to remain near the 

 surface during the severest weather ; here it is that the Sports- 

 man will discover the perforations or borings of this lonely 

 Bird. 



The warm and almost impenetrable Cedar Swamps are also 

 favorite resorts for such Woodcocks as remain in the North 

 during the cold weather, as the springs in such situations sel- 

 dom freeze, and there is always to be found a scanty supply of 

 suitable food even in the depths of winter. These Birds, how- 

 ever, like the Snipe, are very uncertain in their movements, 

 being governed a good deal by the state of the weather, and 

 other similar causes. 



Woodcocks are very abundant in Jersey and Delaware, par- 

 ticularly after a dry spell of weather, as they congregate there 

 from the interior of the country, and spread themselves over 

 the wide extent of meadow lands and marshy cripples so con- 

 genial to their habits, and which are so general in the lower 

 portions of these States. Cock-shooting in these districts is 

 equally, if not more laborious, than Snipe-shooting, more par- 

 ticularly if pursued, as is, we may say, universally the custom, 

 during the oppressively hot weather of July and August. In 

 wandering over these extensive marshes, or, as they are vul- 

 garly called, mashes, it is necessary for the Sportsman to exer- 

 cise considerable dexterity, in stepping from tussock to tussock ; 

 otherwise he will often be doomed to a sudden plunge into the 

 filthy oozes that surround him on every side. The excessive 

 heat of the weather is another strong objection to the shooting 

 of Woodcocks in the month of July, as the heat is often so 

 oppressive that the Birds will spoil in the course of a few hours 

 after being shot, and, in some instances, even before leaving the 

 field for the day. As for hoping to keep the Birds over a day 

 or two, to carry home, such a thing is quite impossible, and 

 the Sportsman, consequently, is forced to throw them away 

 sometimes, when only a day old, if he cannot procure ice to 

 pack them in, which article, by the by, is not always to be had 

 in the country. 



