BAY-BIRDS. 155 
was often able to approach without detection ; 
when near enough, or if the bird became alarmed, 
he cast off his false skin and used his fowling-piece. 
This was certainly an original and successful mode of 
modifying an idea derived from the times of ancient 
Troy. 
This bird is so delicious and so highly prized by 
the epicure, that no pains are spared in its capture ; 
it is by many superior judges regarded as the rich- 
est and most delicately flavored of the birds of 
America; while its timid and wary disposition ren- 
ders it the most difficult to kill. It is, therefore, 
justly esteemed the richest prize of the sportsman 
and the gourmand, and holds as high a rank in the 
field as in the market. 
It is not, properly speaking, a bay-bird ; but as it 
is frequently shot from the stand when passing near 
the decoys, these few remarks concerning it are in- 
serted. It is essentially an upland bird, although 
from the nature of its migration it passes along the 
coast and occasionally far out at sea. 
“ Specific Character.—Bill slender, rather longer 
than the head; tarsi one inch and seven-eighths ; 
neck rather long, slender; axillars distinctly barred 
with black and greyish-white; upper parts dark 
brown, margined with yellowish-brown ; fore-neck 
and fore part of the breast with arrow-shaped mark- 
ings; rest of the lower parts yellowish - white. 
Adult with the bill slender, yellowish-green, dusky 
at the tip ; upper part of the head dark brown, with 
a central yellowish-brown line, the feathers mar- 
