THE BED-BREASTED SNIPE. 439 



is never found in such numbers here as Wilson speaks of 

 in the following description, but is seen in small bunches 

 of six or eight : 



" The Red-breasted Snipe arrives on the seacoast of New Jer- 

 sey early in April, is seldom or never seen inland : early in May, 

 it proceeds to the North to breed, and returns by the latter part of 

 July or beginning of August. During its stay here, it flies in 

 flocks, sometimes very high, and has then a loud and shrill whistle ; 

 making many evolutions over the marshes ; forming, dividing, and 

 re-uniting. They sometimes settle in such numbers, and so close 

 together, that eighty-five have been shot at one discharge of a mus- 

 ket. They spring from the marshes with a loud, twirling whistle, 

 generally rising high, and making several circuitous manoeuvres in 

 the air before they descend. They frequent the sand-bars and mud 

 flats, at low water, in search of food ; and, being less suspicious of 

 a boat than of a person on shore, are easily approached by this 

 medium, and shot down in great numbers. They usually keep by 

 themselves, being very numerous ; are in excellent order for the 

 table in September; and, on the approach of winter, retire to 

 the South. 



" I have frequently amused myself with the various action of 

 these birds. They fly very rapidly, sometimes wheeling, coursing, 

 and doubling along the surface of the marshes ; then shooting high 

 in air, there separating and forming in various bodies, uttering a 

 kind of quivering whistle. Among many which I opened in May, 

 were several females that had very little rufous below ; and the 

 backs were also much lighter, and less marbled with ferruginous. 

 The eggs contained in their ovaries were some of them as large as 

 garden peas. Their stomachs contained masses of those small snail 

 shells that lie in millions on the salt marshes. The wrinkles at the 

 base of the bill, and the red breast, are strong characters of this 

 species, as also the membrane which unites the outer and middle 

 toes together." 



28 



