Concord, Massachusetts.
1891.
Oct. 31
(No 4)
Concord & Carlisle. - covers I returned to the one just
mentioned with the idea of examining the ground
closely for chalkings. The dog ran in ahead and at once
pointed. For sometime I could not make him move;
then he began roading with great caution. I tramped
back and forth over the place again and looked for
chalkings but could find neither them nor a [deleted]the[/deleted] bird.
[margin]A cunning Woodcock[/margin]

The dog would not leave the thicket, however, so I
walked off without him but I had gone scarce
fifty yards when I heard a Woodcock whistle and
turning saw the bird flying off. It apparently started
from a large ground juniper past which I had
brushed closely several times. I went only about
100 yards and alighted in an opening among some
oak scrub. I followed and had just jumped over a
wall when the bird rose wild giving me a long but
perfectly open shot. I fired my choked barrel and
killed it. It proved to be a remarkably large and
richly-colored bird. This and a bird shot by
Melvin on the 24th are the only female Woodcock that
I have seen during the past two weeks.
  Several of the birds which I started earlier in the
day were quite as difficult to find and flush as
the one just mentioned. They evidently ran for
some distance ahead of the dog until they found
a good place for concealing themselves. Here they lay
so closely that Don actually passed them within a
foot or two. Nearly all the Woodcock this year [deleted]also[/deleted]
take remarkably long flights. They also rise in
such a way as to cover their flight, wherever possible,
by a pine or leafy oak. I am satisfied that they
[margin]Change of habits of the Woodcock[/margin]