20 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 
Florida know to their cost that they do occur at in- 
tervals. Frosts which merely chill the ground may 
prevent the woodcock from feeding and so may force 
them to congregate at a few open spots or warm spring 
holes, where if found they can be readily killed, but 
severe colds long continued are exceedingly destructive. 
In February, 1899, such a cold wave swept over 
parts of the South, and its influence on bird life in 
general was so interesting that I need not apologize 
for quoting the gist of the observations made by Mr. 
Arthur T. Wayne, of Mt. Pleasant, S. C. I give this 
account* of the great cold wave of February 13 and 
14, 1899, chiefly in his own words, omitting only the 
technical names of the various species: 
“The cold wave which struck the coast of South 
Carolina was the severest recorded for two hundred 
years. On Monday, February 13, the thermometer 
registered 14° above zero, with the ground covered 
with snow from four to five inches deep on a level, 
while drifts were two feet deep. This is a remarkable 
occurrence for the coast region and to be seen scarcely 
in a lifetime. On Tuesday, at 6:55 a.m., the ther- 
mometer registered 6° above zero. This exceedingly 
cold weather came upon us very suddenly. It was 
sleeting all day Sunday, February 12, but toward mid- 
night grew suddenly colder, and when morning 
dawned the whole country was covered with snow. 
The destruction of bird life caused by this cold wave 
*Auk, Vol. XVI, 1809, p. 197. 
