AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 
179 
which is fastened a horse-hair noose put through a hole in a 
peg fastened into the ground, to which a trigger is annexed ; 
and in order to compel the Woodcock to walk into the trap, 
an extended fence is made on each side by small sticks set 
up close enough to prevent the bird passing between them. 
These concentrate at the trap, so that in this funnel-shaped 
fence the bird in feeding is made to pass through the narrow 
passage, and is almost to a certainty caught by the legs. 
As the season advances and food begins to fail, by reason of 
inclement and cold weather, the Woodcocks leave the interior ; 
and approaching the shelter of the sea-coast and the neighbor- 
ing marshes, they now become abundant, and are at such times 
late in autumn killed in great numbers. These are also their 
assembling points previous to their southern migrations, which 
are performed in a desultory and irregular manner, their mo- 
tions, as usual, being mostly nocturnal or in the twilight ; and 
though many are now met with in the same low meadows and 
marshes, they are brought together by common necessity, 
and never move in concerted flocks. At this season their 
movements are not betrayed by any note or call ; the vocal 
powers of the species are only called into existence at the 
period of propagation ; at other times they move and start to 
wing in silence. The young run or wander off as soon as they 
are hatched, are at this period covered with a brownish-white 
down, and on being taken utter a slender bleat or clear and 
long-drawn peep. 
This famous game-bird is common in the Maritime Provinces, 
but is rarely found on the northern side of the Gulf of St. Law- 
rence. It is common also in Southern Ontario, but in the Mus- 
koka district is rather rare. It is known to breed throughout its 
Canadian range, and southward through the Middle States and 
westward to the Plains. 
Note. — The European Woodcock {Scolopax rusticola), a 
much larger bird, occurs occasionally on this side of the Atlantic. 
