188 lewis's AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



republication of "Hawker." Fire-hunting is almost entirely con- 

 fined to a narrow strip of country running from the mouth of the 

 Mississippi up the river about three hundred miles. Woodcocks 

 resort in grieat numbers to the interminable swamps of this region, 

 and, according to Thorpe, even remain in these solitudes during 

 the spring and summer months, to breed and rear their young. 

 It is perfectly useless for the sportsman to attempt the pursuit of 

 cocks in these fastnesses, overrun as they are with deep and matted 

 grass, high cane, and rank vines. Although many cocks remain 

 in these marshes during the warm weather, still, the greater num- 

 ber of them go off to the North for the purpose of incubation, and, 

 at the approach of winter, return with increased forces to pass the 

 cold months in these secure and favored spots. It is then that, the 

 "fire-hunting" takes place, and continues during the months of 

 December, January, and February. Though the marshes at this 

 time are crowded with these quiet and secluded birds, it is almost 

 impossible for the shooter to get a sight of one of them; and this 

 fact, together with their immense numbers, is perhaps a palliation 

 for the unsportsmanlike practice of "fire-hunting." 



The sport is carried on in this wise : — The shooter, armed with a 

 double-barrelled gun, and decked with a broad-brimmed palmetto 

 hat, sallies forth on a foggy night to the "ridge," where the cocks 

 are now feeding in wonderful numbers. His companion on these 

 expeditions is generally a stout-built negro, bearing before him a 

 species of old-fashioned warming-pan, in which is deposited a goodly 

 supply of pine-knots. Having arrived on the ground, the cocks 

 are soon heard whizzing about on every side; the pine-knots are 

 quickly kindled into a flame, and carried over the head of the negro. 

 The shooter keeps as much as possible in the shade, with his broad- 

 brimmed palmetto protecting his eyes from the glare, and follows 

 close after the torch-bearer, who walks slowly ahead. The cocks 

 are soon seen sitting about on the ground, staring wildly around 

 in mute astonishment, not knowing what to do, and are easily 

 knocked over with a slight pop of the gun, or more scientifically 

 brought to the ground as they go booming off to the marshes. 



