THE WOODCOCK. 
ALLAN BROOKS. 
The American woodcock is confined to 
Eastern America, being more or less rare 
West of the Mississippi valley,and doesnot 
OccuT oOnethe Racine (Coast) Ghouch thie 
cover is admirably adapted to the bird in 
that region, its principal food, the earth- 
worm, is almost entirely absent. The wood- 
cock ofthe Old World is considerably larger, 
lenger winged, and a handsomer colored 


young in first plumage are much more ru- 
fous and more heavily barred than adults. 
The practice of using very small shot, 
such as Nos. 10 and 12, is to be deprecated 
in woodcock and snipe shooting, for it 
certainly gives a poor shot a'much better 
show, by increasing the killing circle. The 
small shot has not the same stopping 
power as) ther larger, and seiiarayaecm Dia 


A YOUNG WOODCOCK IN THE ACT OF FEEDING. 
bird than ours, only the peculiar primaries 
of the American bird separate them generic- 
ally. In Ontario, except in the southern 
counties, woodcock shooting does not 
amount to much, as the species is seldom 
plentiful, and the bulk of the birds leave be- 
fore the season opens. Still, an odd one 1s 
found to vary the sport when grouse shoot- 
ing, even as late as October. The wood- 
cock seems to rear only one brood in a 
season. The late broods one sometimes 
sees, are generally the result of the first 
clutch of eggs being destroyed. 
When sitting on the nest the woodcock 
is the tamest of birds and I have put my 
hand on the old bird in this position, The 
16 
escapes at the longer fanges to 
die, ay slingenines deathiee MNiow Ch iS 5a 
good size for both snipe and woodcock, 
giving an ample killing circle, and if a 
grouse gets up it will kill it neatly at even 
long range. In fact, I would class the man 
who used smaller shot than No. 9 (except 
for collecting) as a game hog. 

Stranger (to man in front): “Won't 
you please ask your wife to take off her 
hat? I can’t see the stage at all.” 
Man in Front: “Ask her yourself. I 
dom tedanre: 1 

