BAY-SNIPE SHOOTING. 75 
bird, and krieker. The upland or grass-plover is pur- 
sued in a different manner, and the smaller birds are 
not pursued for sport at all. 
The sickle-bills, so named after the beautiful sweep- 
ing curve of the bill, which has been known to mea- 
sure eleven inches in length, are the largest of them 
all. ‘They are colored much like a marlin, have a 
beautiful bright eye, a short reed-like call, and a 
steady, dignified flight. In stretch of wings they 
exceed three feet, and nothing can be more impres- 
sive than the approach of a large flock of these birds 
with wings and bills extended and legs dropped in 
preparation for alighting amid the stools. 
They are often shy in the first instance, but as 
soon as one of their number is killed, they return 
again and again to the fatal spot—apparently in blind 
confidence that he must have alighted instead of 
fallen, or out of brotherly anxiety for his fate. I 
have on several occasions attracted a large flock that 
was hesitating whether to approach or not, and 
almost resolving to depart, by killing one of their 
number that incautiously ventured within long 
range—for immediately on seeing him fall, they 
approached, in spite of the report, with full con- 
fidence. 
_ They are easily killed, by reason of: their mode- 
rate speed and customary steadiness, although they 
can dart rapidly when alarmed, and will often, like 
all the bay-birds, carry off much shot. Their flesh 
is tough, very dark, and scarcely fit for the table, 
except perhaps when they first come on from feed- 
