jackson] THE WOODCOCK 373 



Early frost, freezing the ground so that they are unable to 

 obtain food, sends them migrating southward. Now we find the 

 bird a skilled flier, much different from the mother who attempted 

 to lure the hunter from her baby chicks by feigning lameness. 

 Many are killed each year by flying against telephone and tele- 

 graph wires. 



The woodcock appears in New York state as early as Febraury 

 2 2d but usually from March 10th to March 15th. They are a 

 summer resident of this section. So many have been killed by 

 cats and hunters or driven away by the drainage of swamps and 

 destruction of their favorite coverts that our once plentiful bird is 

 fast disappearing. 



AMERICAN GAME PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION 



Woolworth Building, New York City 



THE SPORTSMAN'S CREED 



(Abbreviated) 

 I believe that a sportsman should 



1. Never in sport endanger human life. 



2. Never kill wantonly or needlessly or brutally. 



3. Obey the laws of State and Nation, work for better laws, and 



uphold the law-enforcing authorities. 



4. Respect the rights of farmers and property owners, and also 



their feelings. 



5. Always leave seed birds and game in covers. 



6. Never be a fish-hog. 



7. Discourage the killing of game for commercial purposes by 



refusing to purchase trophies. 



8. Study and record the natural history of game species in the 



interest of science. 



9. Love Nature and its denizens and be a gentleman. 



