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dusky; sides of the head spotted with dark browii; lower parts 

 dull orange-red — the abdomen lighter ; the neck and fore part of 

 breast spotted with dusky ; the sides of the body with numerous 

 bars of the same color ; legs and feet dull yellowish-green. Young, 

 with the lower parts paler. Winter dress, the upper parts brown- 

 ish gray ; neck ash-gray, streaked with dusky ; lower parts gray- 

 ish white, with dusky bars on the sides of the body. Length ten 

 inches and a half, wing six. 



Our gunners, as if fearful that nothing would be left to connect 

 the past with the present generation, cling to the old provincial 

 names for birds, recognising this species by the singular and un- 

 meaning name of " Dowitcher." 



At the close of April, the Red-breasted Snipe arrive on the coasts 

 of Long Island. Invited by a bountiful supply of food, at the 

 reflux of the tide, it resorts to the mud-flats and shoals to partake of 

 the rich supply of shell-fish and insects, which Nature in her plen- 

 itude has provided for it. As the tide advances, it retires to the bog 

 meadows, where it is seen probing the soft ground for worms. In 

 the spring, it remains with us but a short time. Soon after recruit- 

 ing, it obeys the call of unerring Nature, and steers for the North, 

 where it passes the season of reproduction. About the middle of 

 July, it returns with its young, and continues its visit during Sep- 

 tember — and if the season be open, lingers about its favorite feed- 

 ing grounds until the last of the month. 



The whistling note of the Red-breasted, or " duail Snipe," as it 

 is termed in some sections of the Island, is well known to the prac- 

 tical bay-gunner, and he so truly imitates it, that the call is obeyed 

 at a great distance. Fond of associating in large flocks, . this spe- 

 cies is readily decoyed, and is noted for its unsuspicious and gen- 

 tle manner. 



The Red-breasted Snipe is fond of frequenting the fresh ponds 

 that occur on the low parts of the beach or meadow during wet 

 seasons, v^'hich situations are more favorable for procuring it, and 

 attended with but little or no fatigue to the gunner^ who lies con- 

 cealed in the rank grass that grows on the sak meadows ; or, when 

 shooting over " decoys" placed in ponds on the beach, he adopts 



