80 THE GAME BIRDS 
brown. The breast bears the V-shaped mark 
characteristic of many of our shore birds. 
Under parts dirty white. The tail is barred 
with black, the centre feathers being darker 
than the others. Eyes hazel-brown. Bill 
yellow below, black above and at tip. Legs 
greenish-yellow. Length 12 inches. Extent 
22 inches. 
These birds differ from the majority of its 
kind in frequenting the high fields, pastures, 
and prairies, in their search for food, which 
consists of grasshoppers, crickets, etc.; and 
it is seldom seen on the shores. 
They are exceedingly variable in their 
spring migrations, arriving here (Lat. 42° N.) 
from the middle of April anywhere along un- 
til the same time in May, and then perhaps 
there may only a very few appear, where the 
season before they were plenty. They return 
in July, and are with us about a month. 
Here in the East a more wary bird does not 
exist, not even barring the grouse, and a 
good bag of these birds is a rarity. 
I have heard that on the Western prai- 
ries sportsmen ride them down, and no doubt 
many a gunner here wishes he could, as he 
sees a scared flock go “ over the hills and far 
away ” before he can get within range. 
They must be stalked, or, if the gunners 
work in pairs, they may often be driven over. 
They are delicious eating, and justly much 
esteemed. 
