THE BIRDS IN WINTER 



wave swept over our South Atlantic States, and 

 played havoc with the Woodcock in South Carolina. 

 This is what happened: the swamps in the upper 

 reaches of the Pee Dee, the Black, and Waccamaw 

 rivers were frozen solid, and the Woodcock, that in 

 winter abound in this region, were thus driven to 

 the softer grounds farther downstream. The cold 

 continued and the frozen area followed the birds. 

 The Woodcock, unable to drive their long bills into 

 the once-responsive mud, were forced to continue 

 their flight toward the coast in search of open ground 

 where worms could be found. When at length they 

 reached Winyaw Bay, where these rivers converge, 

 they were at the point of exhaustion. Thousands 

 of the emaciated birds swarmed in the streets and 

 gardens of Georgetown. They were too weak to fly, 

 and negroes killed them with sticks and offered bas- 

 kets of these wasted bodies, now worthless as food, 

 for a few cents a dozen. Several shipments were 

 made to Northern cities by local market men, who 

 hoped to realize something by their industry. 

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