BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 167 



found, in early August, Snipe too young to migrate in the marshes of the Miles 

 River, Hamilton. Mr. J. A. Farley tells me that a pair of birds, evidently 

 breeding, was shot by a gunner in May, about the year 1895, at Lynnfield. 

 Snipe occasionally stay into December, and there is one in the Peabody Academy 

 collection that was taken by Dr. H. K. Oliver, in December, 1853. 



The Wilson's Snipe is found during the migrations in the fresh-water mea- 

 dows, or in the brackish edges of the salt marshes. I have never seen them in 

 the salt marshes proper. They usually occur singly or two or three together. 

 On October nth, 1904, Dr. Phillips found twenty of these birds in a small 

 marsh close to Wenham Lake. Their zig-zag erratic flight and sharply emitted 

 scaipes are the first warnings that the man without a dog has of their presence 

 since it is almost impossible to see them on the ground. 



97 [231] Macrorhamphus griseus (Gmel.). 

 DowiTCHER ; Red-breasted Snipe; " Robin Snipe " ; " Brown-back." 



Not uncommon transient visitor, rare in spring ; May 20 to June 7 ; July 6 

 to September 23. 



The Dowitcher is an early autumnal migrant, being rarely seen after the 

 third week in August, although sometimes found into September. My latest 

 date is of a bird in my collection, shot at Newburyport on September 23d, 1904. 

 In the spring they are rare, although the old gunners tell of large numbers being, 

 killed in the last week of May, twenty years or more ago. 



Although they may sometimes occur on the beaches, I have never seen 

 them there, but have found them in the mudholes or sloughs of the salt marshes, 

 which they evidently prefer. They may be found singly or in small flocks that 

 fly in compact form. They are very tame and unsuspicious, and are easily 

 decoyed and shot, resembling the Lesser Yellow-legs in these respects. Their 

 note also resembles that of the Lesser Yellow-legs when a single call is given, 

 but they are apt to follow it with one or two others, low and querulous. 



When feeding, their shorter legs, much darker and brown rather than pale 

 gray backs distinguish them from the Summer Yellow-legs with which bird they 

 are most apt to be confused. If the breast is seen, this of course distinguishes 

 them at once. When the birds are flying, their rumps are seen to be much less 

 white than those of the Yellow-legs. 



