BAY-BIRDS. 151 
steady flight it is not difficult to kill; and its food, 
mostly shell-fish, does not contribute an unpleasant 
flavor to its flesh. It arrives from the north about 
the middle of August, and often lingers for some 
time on the meadows. As the season advances its 
plumage becomes paler, till it acquires the name of 
_ white robin-snipe—although I have often seen them 
late in August of the most beautiful and strongly 
marked coloring, the breast being a rich brownish 
red and the back a fine grey. 
The robin-snipe is of about the size of the dow- 
itcher, with a shorter and more pointed bill, and 
is killed indiscriminately on the stools with the 
other bay-birds. Its call consists of two notes, and 
is sharp and clear; when well imitated, it will often 
attract the confiding snipe to the gunner, exposed 
in full view, and without decoys. This bird is very 
beautiful, and a great favorite. 
“Specific Character —Bill straight, longer than the 
head; tarsi one inch and three-sixteenths long ; 
rump and upper tail-coverts white, barred with 
dark brown; region of the vent and the lower tail- 
coverts white, with dusky markings. In spring the 
upper parts are ash-grey, variegated with black and 
pale yellowish-red ; lower parts, including the throat 
and fore-neck, brownish-orange. In autumn the 
upper parts are ash-grey, margined with dull white ; 
rump and upper tail-coverts barred with black and 
white ; lower parts white; the sides of the body 
marked with dusky ; a dull white line over the eye. 
Adult in spring—bill black ; a broad band of reddish 
