26o SHORE BIRDS 



foliage alone makes the shooting difficult. The young 

 birds are easy marks and the many small ones make 

 an unattractive bag. The knowledge that the shot 

 may deprive birds two days old of the parents' care 

 and protection should be sufficient to keep sportsmen 

 out of the woods at this season without the prohibi- 

 tion of a legal enactment. 



In bright October, when the frost is in the air and 

 the leaves have taken on the gorgeous tints of autumn, 

 the birds are strong on the wing and present far more 

 difficult marks. They are heavy, plump, and hand- 

 some, the rufous tints being frosted with gray, and the 

 flesh is in fine condition for the table. The dogs, in- 

 stead of trotting about with tongues hanging from 

 their mouths, hunt with a vigorous eagerness, their 

 heads are held high and it is a pleasure to see them 



go- 

 As to the kind of dogs, since the shooting of wood- 

 cock is more often an incident to a day's tramp afield 

 for partridges or ruffed-grouse, they are usually the 

 pointers or setters. The dogs should be trained to 

 hunt close to the gun, and are often lost for a time 

 when pointing the game in the thick underbrush. A 

 small bell is sometimes attached to the collar to aid 

 the sportsman in locating the dogs. Where the bell 

 was last heard tinkling the dog is often found on a 

 point. Small spaniels are perhaps the best dogs for 

 woodcock when one goes in pursuit of these birds 

 alone. These merry little dogs gallop about at short 

 distances from the gun and give tongue when they 

 flush the game. They have excellent noses and are ex- 

 tremely fond of the sport. The woodcock gives forth 



