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154 BAY-BIRDS. 
escape almost scatheless. Alighting only in the open 
fields, where the thin grass reveals every enemy and 
exposes every approaching object to their view; 
readily alarmed at the first symptom of danger, and 
shunning the slightest familiarity with man, they are 
impossible to reach except with laborious and pain. 
ful creeping that no sportsman cares to undertake. 
Not sufficiently gregarious or friendly in their na- 
ture to desire the company of wooden decoys, they 
cannot be lured within gunshot; and it is only 
through their confidence in their fellow-beasts that 
their destruction can be accomplished. 
A horse, they know, has no evil design, does not 
live on plover, and may be permitted to come and 
go as he pleases; a horse drawing a wagon is to be 
pitied, not feared ; and, most fortunately, the birds 
cannot conceive that a man would be mean enough 
to hide in that wagon, and drive that horse in an 
ingenious manner round and round them, every 
time narrowing the circle till he gets within shot. 
Man, however, is ready for any subterfuge to gain 
his plover ; and, seated on the tail-board, or a place 
behind prepared for the purpose, he steps to the 
ground the moment the wagon stops, and as the 
bird immediately rises, fires—bein g often compelled, 
in spite of his ingenuity, to take a long shot. 
Even in this mode no large number of birds is 
killed, and by creeping or stalking few indeed are 
obtained. One inventive genius made an imitation 
cow of slats and canvas painted to represent the 
living animal, and, mounting it upon his shoulders, 
