114 THE JERSEY COAST. 
south early in March; now they hardly come till 
June ; so, the ducks come later and stay later. The 
springs are colder, and the autumns warmer, than 
when I was young, and the bay-snipe appear in 
September instead of August, as it once was.” 
“As to the English snipe you are undoubtedly 
correct, but this is due probably to their increasing 
scarcity; and although we have no spring, and the 
summer extends frequently into September, this ap- 
pears to result from the changes in climate effected 
by clearing the woods. As the forests are cut down, 
the cold winds of spring, and the burning suns of 
summer, produce a greater effect, and each in its 
turn lasts longer. Altogether, however, our seasons 
seem to be moderating.” 
At this interesting point in our discussion, some 
one discovered by the aid of a telescope that a flock 
of willet had settled on the sand-bank among the 
stools. The announcement was followed by a gene- 
fal seizure of weapons and rush for the blinds. My 
friend and myself hastened to the little boat, used in 
floating quietly down upon ducks, and called a 
“sneak box,” and embarking, glided silently to- 
wards our stand. The tide had left bare a long 
bank of sand, upon which was collected a glorious 
flock, or, more properly speaking, two flocks united, 
one of marlin and the other of willet. 
All unconscious of approaching danger, the pretty 
creatures were busily engaged, some in feeding, 
others in washing—dipping under and throwing the 
water over their graceful bodies—others in running 
