316 The American Woodcock 



and a few moments later it, or its mate, was found 

 exactly where the mother had gone down. She 

 flushed and made off in the usual summer flight. 

 These details are dwelt upon because many writers 

 have disputed the carrying of the young. My 

 impression is that the bird had removed the other 

 children before I got to the place. The one 

 found, however, was alone, and the others were 

 not located. They certainly were not beside the 

 one, but the search for them was brief, owing to 

 the fact that there was a nasty possibility of step- 

 ping on them. 



The feeding of the downy young I have not 

 seen, so the next step must be to the soft ground 

 of almost dried creek beds and swales where the 

 young do their own boring. Here begins the 

 early cock-shooting, and the man who fancies 

 such easy marks is welcome to them. The con- 

 ditions are all against enjoyable sport, or shoot- 

 ing which will be any great test of marksmanship. 

 As a rule there is a lot of thick cover about, 

 which shuts off what light breeze there may be, 

 while in many creek beds a harsh, keen-edged 

 grass grows abundantly. In this a good dog is 

 bound to suffer — in fact, in my opinion, the 

 game is not worth the candle. If a man must 

 do it, he had best depend upon a tough, bustling 

 spaniel, for beating muddy ground upon a sultry 

 day is a mighty poor occupation for a setter or 



