AMERICAN WOODCOCK 129 
of their range except during a few months of 
spring and early summer in the north. With 
the exception of one State there is no protection 
whatever for Woodcocks in the South. 
They are certainly decreasing with terrible 
rapidity. For the season just passed I am un- 
able to find in a tolerably large acquaintance of 
brush gunners one man whose total of Wood- 
cocks was not materially less than in any former 
season. My own score was less than half the 
usual number, while of ruffed grouse I cap- 
tured a half more than in any former year, and 
I think this was a general condition of things 
with the shooting fraternity in this section. 
With all the hunters’ demands upon him Mr. 
Bonasa Umbellus is more than holding his own. 
Of course, in the case of the Woodcock or 
any migratory bird, legislation by any one 
State or section of the country can do little for 
its preservation, so that everywhere bird lovers 
and sportsmen alike must work together, and 
that right soon, if they would save this noble 
game bird from extinction in the not far distant 
future. Brother sportsman, wherever you are, 
will you lend a hand? 
