306 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 
of an intruder. The soft rustling of the leaves, the 
occasional snapping of a dry twig, and the sound of 
the heavy footfall rouse him from his doze or his 
day dream. He moves sideways beneath the spread- 
ing leaves of a tuft of skunk cabbage, and with head 
turned on one side, and great eyes spread to their wid- 
est, watches for the approaching form. Once in a 
while something may cause him to take the alarm 
and dart away before it is within sight; but usually he 
lies close, and when he rises it is near at hand. He 
springs from the ground uttering a shrill, twittering 
whistle and twists about in his upward flight to dodge 
the branches which spread in a network above him, 
until he has topped the undergrowth, and then darts 
off in a straight line for fifty or a hundred yards, to 
plunge once more into his beloved cover. 
The dog is a most important auxiliary in woodcock 
shooting. A very few sportsmen employ cocker or 
field spaniels, which are trained to range close to the 
gun, and to give tongue as soon as they strike the 
scent, thus warning the shooter of the proximity of 
the bird and preparing him for its possible rising. 
But most men use the setter or pointer. A good wood- 
cock dog should work close; that is, within sight of 
the gun. Often where the undergrowth is very thick, 
it becomes necessary to attach a bell to the dog’s col- 
lar, so that if it pass out of sight for a few moments 
its whereabouts may still be known by the sound. 
Late in November you will still find a few birds, 
and at this time they will be lusty and strong of wing, 
