THE JERSEY COAvST. 235 



soiitli early in Marcli ; now they hardly come till 

 June ; so, the ducks come later and stay later. The 

 springs ar(i colder, and the autumns warmer, tlian 

 when I was yonng, and the bay-snipe appear in 

 September instead of August, as it once was." 



"As to the English snipe you are undoubtedly 

 correct, but this is due probably to their increasing 

 scarcity ; and although we have no spring, and the 

 summer extends frequently into September, this a^o- 

 pears to result from the changes in climate eftccted 

 by clearing the woods. As the forests are cut down, 

 the cold Avinds of spring, and the burning suns of 

 summer, produce a greater effect, and each in its 

 turn lasts longer. Altogether, however, our seasons 

 seem to be moderating." 



At this interesting point in our discussion, some 

 one discovered by the aid of a telescope that a flock 

 of willet had settled on the sand-bank among the 

 stools. The announcement was followed by a gene- 

 ral seizure of weapons and rush for the blinds. jNIy 

 friend and myself hastened to the little boat, used in 

 floating quietly down upon ducks, and called a 

 " sneak box," and embarking, glided silently to- 

 wards our stand. The tide had left bare a long 

 bank of sand, upon which was collected a glorious 

 flock, or, more propei-ly speaking, two flocks united, 

 one of marlin and the other of willet. 



All unconscious of aj)proaching danger, the pretty 

 creatures were busily engaged, some in feeding, 

 others in washing — dipping under and throwing the 

 water over their graceful bodies — others in running 



