HA-BITS OF THE WOODCOCK. 
Dansville, N. Y., March 1, 1875. 
3i< 7 ‘ 7i 
Editor Forest and Stream:— | 
The woodcock 'jiiat have been in the Southern States since the latter i 
part of November will be with us again by tlie full moon of this month. I 
Ttiey travel as far north as Canada, and through every State in our 
Union, around the great lakes, and as far northwest as Fort Union, on 
the Missouri Kiver. In the month of September the shooting is splendid 
in the northern part of Dakota, and along the Mississippi River north of 
Dubuque. At Red Lake they are also in abundance. They commence 
traveling south about the first of October, and by full moon they are in 
this vicinity. At all the lakes they can be found, and the shooting is 
perfection, especially in Minnesota, ducks, geese, swan and crane being 
very plentiful. A few sportsmen travel in steamboats up and down the 
Mississippi River, making it a business shooting woodcock, ruffed and 
pinnated grouse; geese and ducks for the St. Louis and Chicago mar- 
kets. About the first of April they build their nest in this sectio n 
which is roughly formed under some fallen tree or dead bushes, or by 
the side of a decayed stump, and lay from three to five eggs nearly as 
large as a pigeon’s. They are of an olive color, with light, pale brown 
spots. They generally hatch two broods, and if not disturbed will sit in 
the same nest the second time. The first brood is taken care of by the 
cock bird, and after the second is fully grown they take both broods to 
the best feeding grounds . They should be left alone until Septembei. 
July shooting should be abolished in every Northern State, because the 
bird cannot fly as a game bird should fly until he has moulted and re- 
ceived his Autumnal colors. In 1810 I bagged sixty-five woodcock in 
two days' shooting in the month of October; the birds were fat, many of 
them weighing eight ounces. It is impossible to do this in Summer. 
Northward of Dakota their stay is short, but the snipe passes far be- 
yond, being lighter and stronger on the wing. As soon as they com- 
mence migrating they make short nocturnal flights from covert to covert, 
resting in the day time. This valley has caution signs for miles along 
the roads, and the law will be enforced if any one is detected shooting 
woodcock during the Summer months. Woodcock, when migrating, 
feed at dusk, and are ready for their journey at daylight, I have flushed 
them in November in the woods, and have seen them tower far above 
the forest trees, flying in a circle for ten or fifteen minutes, and then 
alight near the spot where they had been flushed. I have seen my dog 
rise from his charge when told to hie on, and after walking a few steps 
point the second time on the first bird. At daylight, in the Spring, their 
flights are more rapid and longer. They generally travel in pairs, and 
when on the move can be found in any swampy ground inclined to be 
sandy especially in second growth sprouts, or in low lying thickets near 
open ground, but never in the forest. Black alder, birch and willows 
are their favorite resorts, and food abounds more plentifully where there 
is alow, rich, black soil and bogs, but not grassy. During the heat of 
the day the birds lie in the thickets and close woods. At twilight I have 
seen them on the wing near open swamps, or along the open banks of 
rivers and when seen at that season on moonlight nights they feed all 
night long, and at daybreak take a long flight to some shady haunt. 
They only"act in this manner when non migrating. They will return to 
the covert in which they were hatched, if not driven out before the 
moultin'* season; but as the law stands to-day I think very few return. 
Nearly all of the young are but three-fourths grown by July, and the 
old ones are taken away from the second brood that arc but half fledged. 
If left alone for two weeks longer they could take care of themselves. 
Woodcock, at times, are sluggish and hard to rise, and when flushed 
they will only fly ten or fifteen feet and drop again suddenly, and that, 
too, in front of the dog. I generally found that when this was the case 
the bird was either very fat, or fatigued by a long journey, and if so, 
was very thin and pin feathered. The woodcock, on alighting, runs oft- 
entimes as the quail, before squatting. I have seen them in October 
run round and round the dog, then hide under a leaf . Their tails are erect 
and spread when running in this manner. About the full moon in Au- 
gust they disappear. A single bird is only found here and there until 
the first of September, when they again take up their former grounds . 
They very soon get in fine order and give sport which is excellent, hut 
Sifter a few heavy frosts and the ground becomes slightly frozgn, they 
canijot, bore, tlw ipsects p»pp*#r, *»4 they leave for thP South, and do 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
SZjcni<j } Us Pari 
not appear among us until they get ready to build and sit; then they 
visit our lakes and swamps again. The largest and fattest birds that I 
have ever bagged have been in this locality, and I have hunted them 
for forty years. I bagged my first brace in Pennsylvania, in 1835. In 
the Autumn of ’7i I weighed twelve birds, and they turned the scale at 
six and a half pounds. I shot several this season that weighed nine 
ounces fully, and my nephew shot one that weighed ten ounces. 
The feeding grounds here are small, but are superior for woodcock and 
snipe. My nephew also shot a grouse that weighed forty-eight ounces, 
which is of course a very rare specimen, their usual weight being from 
twenty to thirty-five ounces. Woodcock generally weigh from five and 
one-half to seven ounces, and the English bird from nine to sixteen 
ounces. I had one sent to me from England that weighed one pound 
one ounce. I had it set up, and have it in my collection. The plumage 
of the two birds is very different. Ours is more delicate in flavor and 
juiciness. The rich and loamy soil in this locality causes the Autumn 
birds to be so fine and fat. They are not confined to suction, for under 
the leaves and turf and in the thickets and open bogs 'they find many 
worms and insects. 
When boring, they make a dull, heavy sound, until they grasp their 
prize. Ra : sing their bill into the air they seem to suck the worm stead- 
ily, when, with a quick motion of the head, it disappears, and the work 
is commenced for another morsel. They bore five or ten holes very rap 
idly and then rest for a few minutes. Their bill being filled with many 
nerves makes it very sensitive, so that no worm can escape, if within 
two inches of the surface. They are greedy, unsocial and solitary. 
From the time the first egg is laid until the brood is hatched, is gener- 
ally four weeks. I have seen the male bird at this time rise almost in a 
line, probably three hundred feet, then commence circling, making a 
very singular note, something like the snipe, but much louder and 
deeper, then rapidly descending to the place whence he started he com- 
mences giving an entirely different note, sounding like quack, quack, 
and is answered by the female instantly. 
The ordinary number of the young brood is four birds. I have seen 
five, but seldom. When the moulting season commences the woodcock 
separate, and do not come together again until they get ready to migrate. 
I have seen the male bird with the first brood tumble and flutter along 
the ground and over the dead leaves for a short distance, and then take 
wing, fly in a circle, and return to the hen, and in a few moments utter a 
few clucks, and the young would come out of their hiding places and be 
under his protection again. lie would squat and allow me to pass with- 
in a few feet of him. Wherever there is good boriug a side hill is 
his choice for home. If the weather has been dry, you will always find 
them in briar patches, or deep thickets, where the ground never loses 
moisture; and on the contrary you will find them on the hills or elevated 
ground^, especially if there is a certain degree of moisture. Aud when 
the weather gets cool you will find them among the chestnuts aud birch 
clearings, receiving the warmth of the November sun. And as the sea- 
son approaches its end you will find them in the more sheltered swamps, 
| w here the worms and insects are protected. The cedar swamps they 
delight in, and 1 have shot many of them in November and in the early 
part of December. But they are very uncertain in their movements, 
hein* governed by the soil and weather. In the southern part of Dela- 
w are" they collect in large numbers, for the marshes and cripples is their 
home Last season birds were very scarce in the Eastern and Midale 
States. Summer shooting kills off all the old birds and spoils the Au- 
This game bird is harrassed more than any other; after being hunted 
I all summer aud Autumn, when he returns south they are not content 
! with hunting during the day, but at night take the negro and torch, and 
' whilst he is feeding “shoot him on the spot,” and call that sport. The 
■ severe, many snows, but light; but if the 
,oo wet, there will be plenty of game next 
John DeBanes. 
Late Flight of Woodcock on Long Island, N. Y. — On December 5, 
1908, while hunting near Flanders, Suffolk Co., I flushed a Woodcock 
( Philohela minor). On December 8, after a storm and heavy rain, eleven 
were shot in a small swamp at Lawrence, Nassau Co., close to the New 
York City line. The same day one was seen in a little strip of woods about 
one mile from this swamp. 
In 30 years on Long Island, I have never seen other than stragglers 
after about November 20th and do not recall ever before seeing one in 
December. — Harold Herrick, New York City. 
Auk 26, Jan -190© 77 
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