64 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



that one may drive them on a heape like so many sheepe, and seeing a fit time 

 shoot them ; the living seeing the dead, settle themselves on the same place 

 againe, amongst which the Fowler discharges againe. I my selfe have killed 

 twelve score at two shootes : these bird are to be had upon sandy brakes at 

 the latter end of Summer before the Geese come in." 



Josselyn J gives this quaint account of these birds : " There are little Birds 

 that frequent the Sea-shore in flocks called Sanderlins, they are about the big- 

 ness of a Sparrow, and in the fall of the leaf will be all fat ; when I was first in 

 the Countrie the English cut them into small pieces to put into their Puddings 

 instead of suet, I have known twelve score and above kill'd at two shots." And 

 Morton says : " Sanderlings are a dainty bird, more full boddied than a Snipe ; 

 and I was much delighted to feede on them because they were fatt and easie to 

 come by, because I went but a stepp or to for them : and I have killed betweene 

 foure and five dozen at a shoot, which would loade me home. 



Their foode is at ebbing water on the sands, of small seeds that grows on 

 weeds there, and are very good pastime in August." The same kind of " pas- 

 time " and similar methods are used at the present time, but on the much dimin- 

 ished and more wary survivors of former days. 



The Heath Hen (Tympanuchus c lipid o) was no doubt formerly common in 

 the pastures and woods of Essex County. It was called the Pheasant in the 

 early days. It was formerly " so common on the ancient bushy site of the city 

 of Boston, that laboring people or servants stipulated with their employers not 

 to have the Heath-Hen brought to table oftener than a few times in the 

 week!" 2 



The Wild Turkey (Mclcagris gallopavo silvcstris) was formerly a ranger of 

 Essex County. Capt. John Smith, 3 that acute observer, in coasting Cape Ann 

 in 1616, speaks of seeing " Turkics " among other birds. Morton says : " Tur- 

 kies there are, which divers times in great flocks have sallied by our doores ; and 

 then a gunne, being commonly in a redinesse, salutes them with such a court- 

 esie, as makes them take a turne in the Cooke roome. They daunce by the 

 doore so well. 



Of these there hath bin killed that have weighed forty eight pound a 

 peece." Higginson says : " Here are likewise aboundance of turkies often killed 

 in the woods, farre greater then our English turkies, and exceeding fat, sweet, and 

 fleshy, for here they have aboundance of feeding all the yeere long, as strawber- 



1 John Josselyn : An Account of two Voyages to New England, 1675 ; P- 2 79 °f ^$33 reprint. 



2 Thomas Nuttall: A Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and of Canada, vol. 1, p. 

 662, 1832. 



3 Quoted by F. A. Ober: History of Essex County, by D. H. Hurd, vol. 1, p. 677, 1888. 



