XXXIX 



THE WOODCOCK 



NO warning cry used by sportsmen is more thrill- 

 ing than that often heard in the wet thicket, 

 "mark cock!" No American game bird is more highly 

 prized by shooters than the woodcock. William Jar- 

 vis well says in a poetic sentence, it is "a bird with the 

 magic power to turn its admirer from all other feath- 

 ered game, if once he hears the whistle of its wings 

 or sees its form glide stealthily down the glade." Dr. 

 Coues observes this is the game bird after all, say 

 what you please of snipe, quail, or grouse, and Gurdon 

 Trumbull adds " yes, Doctor, either in the field or on 

 toast." 



The woodcock is peculiar in its appearance and is 

 easily distinguished from all other game birds. The 

 general color is rufous gray, effectively marked above 

 with black; its head is larger than that of the snipe 

 or partridge (Bob-white), and the black eyes are set 

 well back and high to enable it to see when boring 

 in the mud with its long bill. The legs and bill 

 are a gray flesh color, the bill being about two and 

 three-quarter inches long and twice the length of the 

 head. Compared with the Bob-white the woodcock 

 is somewhat heavier and larger, the length of the 

 former being from nine and one-half to ten inches, the 

 latter ten and one-half inches to twelve inches. The 

 woodcock in extent of wings is from sixteen to eigh- 



252 



