BAY-BIRDS. 175 
ment, and the sky seems to have lost its natural 
blue and become of a rich brown tint. As these 
splendid birds, shrieking their hoarse call, set their 
wings for the stool, and crossing one another in their 
flight, pause in doubt; or, after alighting individu- 
ally, rise again, and hesitate whether to remain or 
continue their course—the sportsman, cowering in 
his lair, and anxious to take advantage of this glori- 
Sus opportunity, becomes wildly eager with excite- 
ment; and if, after having by a judicious selection 
brought several to the ground, he recalls the de- 
parting flock which again presents itself to his aim, 
his rapture knows no bounds, and with his reloaded 
breech-loader, he repeats, perhaps more than once, 
the exhilarating performance. 
This lordly bird, the largest of the bay-snipe, is 
often extremely gentle, and may be lured by the 
imitation of its ery at an immense distance, and 
brought back to the decoys several times, where one 
or more of its companions may have fallen; but at 
other times it is wild and shy. Individuals differ 
considerably in size, the largest I ever saw having a 
bill eleven inches long, and some weighing nearly 
double as much as others; but all are of a beautiful 
reddish-brown or burnt sienna tint, with a yellowish 
shade on the abdomen. Their flight is steady, and 
their flesh tough, dark, and oily. Their eye is ex- 
tremely bright, and their shape graceful. 
“ Specific Character.—Bill towards the end de- 
curved; upper part of the throat, and a band from 
the bill to the eye, light buff; general plumage, 
