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concealment by making a bed of sea-weed or cut grass, at a convs' 

 nient shooting distance. Thus concealed, he has an opportunity of 

 observing what is passing around him. Should a wandering flock 

 meet his eye, or the notes of a distant group fall upon his ear, he 

 pipes his shrill whistle in accordance with their peculiar cry, which 

 is answered by the leaders of the roving band, and echoed by the 

 wily gunner, whose hopes now mount high, as he sees them check 

 their course, wheel, and advance toward the decoys, whose well- 

 trimmed, though silent forms, are made partners to the treachery. 



If suffered to alight, it is not unusual for it to spend several min- 

 utes in feeding among the decoys before it discovers the deception. 

 Flying close together, and being proverbial for hovering over the 

 silent group that leads them to destruction, the gunner thins their 

 ranks by pouring into the body of the flock his deadly fire. Not- 

 withstanding great havoc is made, it not unfrequently happens that 

 some of those which escape, return and alight among the dead bo- 

 dies of their companions, sharing — with the reloading of the gun- 

 ner's piece — their fate. 



In dry seasons, when the shallow ponds have disappeared, the 

 scattered flock is observed along the muddy flats, wading about in 

 the shoal water, though seldom venturing beyond knee-deep, and 

 seldom to so great a depth. Even in this exposed situation, but 

 little address is required to approach within shooting distance. I 

 have often had opportunities of witnessing their dullness in being 

 apprised of danger, while they were feeding in company with va- 

 rious species of shore birds. 



Long before the gunner thinks of taking aim, the watchful Gull 

 unfolds its wings, and passes still father on from danger — 

 quickly followed by the shy Willet. The less timid Yellow-shanks 

 begins to feel insecure — it moves about with hurried steps — stoops to 

 take one more morsel from the various delicacies that are profuse- 

 ly scattered round it — casts a glance at the approaching gun- 

 ner, feeling that it has lingered too long for its safety, raises its 

 wings, utters a suppressed and tremulous note, and leaves to fin- 

 ish its repast in some distant place of greater security. The host of 

 small Sandpipers that are busily engaged in gleaning their fare^ 

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