Say birds. 337 



species is found extensively on the Western prairies, where 

 it associates with the golden and upland plover, and flies 

 in flocks with them. These flocks maybe approached by 

 using a horse and wagon, as they manifest little fear of 

 quadrupeds; and, being addicted to flying low, large bags 

 ean be made very frequently, especially on the bare and 

 open plains. Notwithstanding the abundance of bay 

 birds, they do not afford such good sport as other feath- 

 ered game, as dogs cannot be used in their pursuit, so 

 that one of the most picturesque elements of sport is 

 wanting. All that is to be done then, is to avoid detec- 

 tion, and shoot the birds when they come within range. 

 In shooting them along shore, sportsmen conceal them- 

 selves in blinds made of sedges, and fire away at them 

 when they descend to the decoys planted along the beach. 

 These decoys are usually rude imitations of the black- 

 bellied plover, each being mounted on a single peg. The 

 birds frequently hover over the stools until they receive 

 four or five volleys, as they seem to think there is no ne- 

 cessity for alarm when they see their wooden images rest- 

 ing quietly on their perches. It is sometimes amusing to 

 note how they watch the decoys during a volley, for 

 they eye them m the most peculiar manner, and wheel 

 around them, as if they were trying to find out why they 

 did not attempt to flee from the leaden hail which was 

 decimating the ranks of their living congeners. This 

 habit of flying around the decoys enables a man to kill 

 them in large numbers, it being nothing unusual for a 

 man to bag a hundred brace of bay birds in a day, and 

 even more if they are very numerous, as he may kill 

 thirty or forty at every discharge of his gun, if he is an 

 expert wild-fowler. 



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