BIRD PARADISE 65 



neat is not much more than a slight cavity in 

 the ground, given perhaps a thin liuing of dried 

 grass. Like the other members of the snipe 

 family the woodcock is an active stirring bird. 

 During his waking hours he keeps busy most of 

 the time hunting for food for himself and his 

 hungry brood. The young woodcock never seems 

 to readi the point in taking food when he acts as 

 though he had eaten enough. They are cunning 

 little fellows and soon learn to secure food for 

 themselves. I think the sportsmen have done 

 but little in the way of hunting these birds in our 

 hill country. Hence, it is not so difficult to in- 

 terview them as it is in many places where they 

 make their home. 



The morning after the rain the robins seemed 

 to be unusually lively. The air was cool and 

 the clouds heavy and dark — not just the condi- 

 tions wherein I have found the birds stirring 

 early or actively. As I looked out through the 

 mists I could see a dozen or more of my red- 

 breasted friends thoroughly excited and evidently 

 in a state of war that to all appearances meant 

 death in the last diteh. At first nothing was 

 discovered which gave the least indication what 



