AUDUBON JOURNAL 



I took a Walk with my Gun this afternoon to see 

 the Passage of MilHons of Golden Plovers Coming from 

 the North Est and going Nearly South — the distruc- 

 tion of these innocent fugitives from a Winter Storm 

 above us was really astonishing — the Sportsmen are 

 here more numerous and at the same time more ex- 

 pert at shooting on the Wing than any where in the 

 U. States [and] on the first sight of these birds Early 

 this Morning assembled in Parties of from 20 to 100 

 at Diferent places where they Knew by experience 

 they told me the birds pass and arranged themselves 

 at equal distances squatted on their hams, as a flock 

 Came Near every man Called in a Masterly astonish- 

 ing Manner, the Birds Imediately Lowered and 

 Wheeled and coming about 40 or 50 yards run the 

 Gantlet every Gun goes off in Rotation, and so well 

 aimed that I saw several times a flock of 100 or More 

 Plovers destroyed at the exception of 5 or 6 — the Dogs 

 after each Voleys While the Shooters charged their 

 Pieces brought the Same to each Individuals — this 

 continued all day, When I Left One of those Lines of 

 Sharp Shooters then the Sun Setting, they appeared 

 as Intent on Kilhng More as when I arrived at the 

 spot at 4 o'clock — 



a Man Near [me] where I was seated had Killed 63 

 dozens — from the firing before & behind us I would 

 suppose that 400 Gunners where out. Supposing each 

 Man to have Killed 30 Dozen that day 144,000 must 



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