1916 ] Nichols and Harper, Long Island Shore Birds. 239 



and the blind for the most successful results, especially when 

 photography is the object, calls for considerable experience and 

 skill on the part of the hunter. 



The snipe fly up the wind toward the stool, often setting their 

 wings and sailing in first from one angle, then from another. As 

 they approach, their characteristic whistles add to the thrill of the 

 moment. A skillful imitation of these will often bring them in 

 more surely, or turn a passing bird which otherwise might have 

 merely whistled to the stool. The critical moment comes just 

 before they are ready to alight; when actually among the artificial 

 birds, some individuals (especially of the smaller species) seem to 

 take their security for granted. We have very frequently planted 

 our stool in a foot or more of water, where incoming birds could not 

 judge the depth on account of muddiness or surface reflections. 

 In such a case, they often flutter about from one deceiver to another, 

 dipping their feet into the water, and becoming bewildered by their 

 inability to find bottom (Plate XI, fig. 4). If a little mound of 

 mud or seaweed has been prepared to project above the surface 

 near the decoys, a bird will sometimes alight upon it, giving the 

 camera-hunter a shot that may amply repay him for long days of 

 devotion to the difficult but fascinating sport of snipe photography. 



May and August are the months in which these birds occur in 

 greatest numbers. As many species are found through September, 

 but after the first week a majority of them fall off in abundance of 

 individuals. The influence of the weather on their southward 

 migratory flight is frequently noticeable. Clear weather and 

 strong northwest winds bring few birds, and those that appear do 

 not come well to stool. At such times doubtless many birds pass 

 by well out at sea. Protracted southerly winds, moderate south- 

 west breezes, and cloudy or showery weather seem to furnish 

 proper conditions for the best flights over the shores and bays. 

 On favorable feeding grounds the birds may be found at practically 

 any time, and their flights from one spot to another on the marshes 

 or mud-flats may, of course, take any direction. In certain other 

 places, however, the flight is seen to be of a truly migratory nature. 

 For example, along the comparatively narrow channel connecting 

 Moriches and Great South Bays, where feeding grounds are so 

 limited as to scarcely induce the birds to alight, a large majority 



