132 ON THE WING. 



Red-Breasted Snipe. 



This bird closely resembles Wilson's snipe in its fall 

 and winter dress, but is dissimilar in its habits and in its 

 flavor. The latter bird frequents fresh-water marshes, 

 while the former is found in the low grounds and salt 

 marshes along our coast. The red-breasts, moreover, 

 congregate in large flocks, while the Wilson is mostly 

 found alone or in pairs. The red-breasted snipe is 

 known among baymen as the Brown-back, and is con- 

 sidered more delicious in flavor than any other sea- 

 bird. But on account of its small size, sportsmen 

 do not give so much attention to it as to larger game. 



This bird is also known as the quail-snipe, and is 

 migratory, returning from the North in large flocks, 

 about the first of August. They are not so wary as 

 most shore-birds, and the sportsman often kills several 

 at one shot. They feed on snails and insects, which 

 they pick up when the tide is receding. When in 

 company with other birds, they can readily be distin- 

 guished by their color. 



Clapper-Rail or Mud-Hen (Rallus crepitans). 



The mud-hen or big rails are migratory birds, found 

 along our seaboard as far down as South Carolina, 

 and are especially plentiful in and about the marshes 

 of Delaware Bay, and in the State of New Jersey. 

 They are not considered very good eating. They are 

 large, sluggish on the wing, and easily knocked down 

 even by the novice sportsman. It is hard to make 

 them take wing, as they depend for protection more 

 upon diving and swimming than upon their flight. 



