BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 271 



History. 



Formerly this bird arrived on our coasts in great flocks, 

 and was extremely abundant in our meadows. In olden 

 times it was not much noticed or hunted, for there was an 

 abundant supply of larger and better game, but for the past 

 fifty years, during the growing game scarcity, most gunners 

 found the little Grass-bird one of the most numerous species 

 commonly met with in the meadows and marshes, and it was 

 much sought for the market. It is still one of the common 

 birds found in the salt marsh at times, particularly during 

 storms in August and September, but its numbers have de- 

 creased greatly, and since the decline of the Curlews, Godwits, 

 Willets and larger Plover this little fellow has come to be 

 reckoned with as one of the "big birds" which helps to make 

 out a bag. Now not even a "Peep" is too small to shoot. 



The following abridged extracts from the writings of orni- 

 thologists throw light on the history of the species: In the 

 neighborhood of Boston more abun- 

 dant than elsewhere (Audubon) . Have 

 been killed in abundance on shores of 

 Cohasset and other parts of Massachu- 

 setts Bay, and brought to markets in 

 Boston (Nuttall, 1834). More abun- 

 dant on the shores of Massachusetts Fig. 15.— Tail of Pectoral 

 Bay than in any other part of the ^^"'^'p"" (-^f'^cory.) 

 country (Peabody, 1839). Quite plentiful on Long Island 

 (Giraud, 1844). A few remain in spring, but the greater 

 number come from August to November; occasionally occurs 

 in great numbers along the coast of the State; some years 

 very scarce (De Kay, New York, 1844). Common migrant 

 on marshes (Maynard, eastern Massachusetts, 1870). Com- 

 mon in migration (J. A. Allen, 1879). Generally not uncom- 

 mon, occasionally abundant (Hoffmann, New England and 

 New York, 1904). Transient autumn; formerly not un- 

 common (Brewster, Cambridge region, Mass., 1906). Rare 

 spring and common fall migrant (G. M. Allen, Massachu- 

 setts, 1909). Seven Massachusetts correspondents report an 



