BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 327 



than the young of the Sicklebill, but some of the older gunners, 

 who had handled, watched and shot both species, were quick 

 to learn the difference in their notes, flight and markings, and 

 are not likely to have been often mistaken. Mr. Lewis Stone 

 of Ipswich told me (1908) that he killed many Sicklebills 

 "about forty years ago;" when he first went gunning he 

 killed them often. Mr. John M. Winslow of Nantucket never 

 has seen the species very numerous there; he states that years 

 ago he saw about one hundred in a flock, but usually saw only 

 a few at a time. Linsley (1843) found it at Stratford, Conn., 

 and Colonel Pike told Mr. Dutcher that "sixty years ago" 

 (perhaps about 1840) it was plentiful on Long Island, N. Y. 

 The only record that I have from the interior of the State is 

 that of one seen by Prof. F. E. L. Beal of the Biological Survey, 

 in Leominster in 1898. I have received many reports of birds 

 seen or killed on the coast of Massachusetts within the past 

 forty years, but as no specimen was preserved in any case, 

 and as the Hudsonian Curlew often is mistaken for the Sickle- 

 i3ill, I hesitate to record any of them. 



The following notes abridged from standard authors show 

 the former abundance of this bird and its decrease, on the 

 Atlantic coast: One or two pairs remain in salt marshes 

 of Cape May all summer (Wilson, 1813). Dr. Brewer tells 

 me that he has seen large flocks at Nahant, and that they are 

 offered for sale in the markets of Boston at close of summer 

 (Peabody, 1839). Regular visitor at Egg Harbor and Long 

 Island in spring and summer; in latter place seen as late as 

 middle of November (Giraud, 1844). Not uncommon during 

 migrations but very shy (Maynard, eastern Massachusetts, 

 1870). Not very abundant on coast in spring and fall on 

 northern side of Cape Cod; most abundant in autumnal 

 flight, when it appears in flocks of fifteen or twenty; much 

 sought after for markets (Samuels, 1870). In New England 

 appears to be rather uncommon (Coues, 1874). Not very 

 common (J. A. Allen, Massachusetts, 1879). Not now a com- 

 mon species in New England or north of New Jersey, and 

 noticeably less common in New Jersey, Delaware, INIaryland 

 and Virginia than in former years (Gurdon Trumbull, 1888). 



