114 FEATHERED GAME 
often happens in things of sport, the pleasures 
of anticipation were greater than those of real- 
ization, for when the morrow came I walked all 
day and although there were evidences aplenty 
of the presence of Woodcock, I found but one 
bird and got but one shot which was beauti- 
fully missed. (O, yes, I miss one now and 
then!) 
But I must also mention a newer and more 
original method as developed by a friend—a 
practice not much in vogue as yet, but perhaps 
fraught with great possibilities. This gunner 
was on a ledge among our outer islands shoot. 
ing ‘‘coots’’ late in October, when he saw a 
strange bird coming to his decoys. After some 
staring at the newcomer he awoke to the situa- 
tion in time to send a charge of number two 
shot after him and succeeded in killing a fine 
Woodcock. I mention this as the only instance 
which I have known of a Woodcock being killed 
over decoys. 
In his moonlight travels the Woodcock is apt 
to visit the cornfields or the orchards, even com- 
ing into the farmer’s dooryard. When cross- 
ing his lawn after dark the granger may chance 
to hear the rolling whistle and mayhap dodges 
