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THE WOODCOCK. 
Preeminent among edible birds stands the woodcock. His rank in 
this respect is so much above all other birds, whether wild or domestic, 
that his position is undisputed... He is a very plump fellow, with dark, 
rich juicy meat of a delicious flavor. 
As a game bird he has always been highly regarded by sportsmen. 
He lies well to a pointing dog and falls when slightly hit with fine shot, 
although it requires a good snap shot to hit him in the thickets where 
he makes his home. | 
This bird comes to [Illinois from the South in the early spring, 
raises its brood and goes north in late summer, returning late in the 
fall in large flocks on its migration to points below the frost line. 
The Woodcock. 
. The woodcock likes the little thicket through which there is a 
running stream or rich soil soft enough for its long bill. It feeds at 
night on worms and such lariae as it can find in the rich soft soil. In 
the day time it rests in the thickets or low woodland. Its migrations 
North and South are made in the night time. Formerly this bird was 
quite plentiful in Illinois, but the drainage of the lowlands and the 
clearing up of the woodland and thickets has taken away from him his 
home and much of his feeding ground. 
This bird used to be regarded as a summer bird when the shoot- 
ing season opened in July. The young birds are well grown in July 
and afford good sport. Inasmuch as these birds left for the North in 
