THE JERSEY COAST. 103 
elegance, and willingly sleep, if not in the same room, 
in chambers that lead into one another; but it is 
situated within a hundred yards of the best shooting 
ground, and is as well kept as any other tavern on 
the beach. Sportsmen do not mind waiting their 
turn to use the solitary wash basin, drawing water 
from the hogshead, or wiping on the same towel, 
but are thankful for good food, and the luxury of a 
well filled ice-house. 
In addition to the general directions heretofore 
given, it may be well in this connexion to describe 
more particularly the mode of killing bay-snipe. A 
number of imitation birds, usually called stools, are 
eut from wood, and painted to resemble the various 
species ; they have a long stick, or leg, inserted into 
the lower part of the body, and a sufficient number 
to constitute a large flock are set up in shallow 
water, or upon some bar where the birds are accus- 
tomed to feed. They are made from thin wood, or 
even from tin, and are headed various ways so as to 
show in all directions; the coarsest and least perfect 
imitations will answer. 
The most remarkable trait of the shore birds, or 
bay-snipe, is their gregarious nature and sociability. 
A flock flying high in air, apparently intent upon 
some settled course, will, the moment they see ano- 
ther flock feeding, turn and join it. Their natural 
history, or the object which they evidently have in 
thus joining forces, does not seem to be understood ; 
but the baymen, by imitation-birds and calls, take 
advantage of this instinct. Farther south, along the 
