the hillsides and oak thickets. The woodcock's 

 whereabouts depend so largely upon climatic con- 

 ditions, that the successful hunter must be a careful 

 student of their habits, and thoroughly familiar with 

 the country over which he is hunting. A man 

 might live for years within easy reach of a good 

 woodcock cover, and not see a bird. The range 

 of the woodcock is very small compared with that 

 of our other game birds. The principal flight is 

 along the Atlantic States ; and they are never found 

 in the West. The woodcock probes for its food 

 with its long bill, and the holes or "borings" that 

 they make while feeding can be seen in the soft 

 mud in the bottom lands. 



The woodcock has a very tender skin, and is 

 easily killed ; its flight is short, and it can often be 

 followed and flushed again if it has escaped from 

 the hunter. The thick brush is what makes suc- 

 cessful woodcock shooting difficult, and the hunter 

 must be a good snap-shot. The woodcock is 

 unsurpassed as a table or game bird. The ruffled 

 grouse is in the same class as the woodcock. No 

 sound is dearer to a sportsman's ear than the drum- 

 ming of a grouse as it drifts out on the quiet Indian 

 summer air, across some sheltered valley. No 

 sight thrills us more than a glimpse of the broad- 

 tailed, golden bird whirring away through the 

 leafless alders. With what pleasure we look back 

 on the days when, accompanied by some fciithful 

 dog, we hunted the coverts. 

 61 



