The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-06-14
3 p o R TIN G.. ..-NO. 3

SUMNER WOODCoCK SHOOTING.
The American Woodcock (Scolopar
Major commences laying as early as
the beginning Of February, and some
times lays 50 late as the end of June, or
the beginning of July. The eggs are
four, and sometimes FIVE in number-of
no more than this does any naturalist in
form rs. Whether the old birds regu-
larly breed q second and third time,
what becomes of the young birds of the
first Matching in the meantime, or
whether they are protected by the male
bird, seems to be questions upon which
men yet " honestly differ" Mr.. Audu-
bon states that the time occupied by in
cubation is eighteen or twenty days
that the young birds run the moment
thoy clip the she'll, and at six weeks old
they are strong and quick on wing. Ac-
cording to this, by the first of May there
should be quite a number of birds we'll
on wing. Many writer's admit that the
bird regularly hatches twice and some
times thrice in season, and that it is
certain that young birds of Two different
sizes are never found in July, with the
same parents The Woodcock is pro-
perly nocturnal in his habits, is rarely
or never seen by day, unless by those
who are especially in pursuit Of him, and
even by them is he found with difficulty.
At nightfall, however, he may often be
seen on the wing, darting athwart the
gloom from the dry upland coverts, in
which, at many seasons, he loves to lie,
toward bis wet feeding grounds. Dur
ing the hours of darkness, while honest
people are asleep, he is on the alert
constantly, by night stealing his food, by
night making bis long and direct migra-
tions, choosing for this latter purpose
foggy weather, or at the full of the moon.
By day no lies suugly bid in some lonely
brake, among long grass and fern
leaves" under the shade of some dark
alder, or ,ilvery willow, and near some
marshy level, or muddy str.amlet's
brink, during the summer; but in au-
tumn, on some dry hillside clothed with
dense second growth and sapplings.
Sometimes, tits said, in some dense,
shadowy thickst where no struggling
sunbeam ever pierces, he oftentimes feeds
BY day, probing the soft loan, with his
long bill, and drawing forth the worms
which he so loves, but it rarely happens
that he is caught sight of in such situa-
tions, never being seen until his shrill
whistle is piped and himself on wing for
other parts. He is solitary bird-(like
a bachelor acting and moving for
himself alone, never by concert or asso-
citation. About the first Of August the
main body of the species disappear and
this disappearance is one of the most
mysterious features in the natural history
of the Woodcock 1t is admitted they
withdraw for the purpose of moulting,
but where they 60 to is the mystery.
There can always be found a few indi-
vidual birds, but the disappearance of
the main body is sudden and simultaue-
Gus. This time or season is the signal
for dispersion, and the termination of all
family ties between the old asd young
birds. From now until the next Feb
ruary the Woodcock, whether found
singly in a solitary place, or among
scores of his kind, is still lonely and
ungregarious bird, coming and going
without undemocratic rascal
to the will of the majority. H.