196 BAY-SNIPE SHOOTING. 



The last four varieties are nearly similar in size 

 and greatly exceed the following, but are far less 

 desirable in an epicurean point of view. 



The golden plover is one of the finest birds that 

 flies ; it associates in flocks of a tlunisand, stools well, 

 is extremely fat, is delicious on the table, and has a 

 peculiarly musical whistle. It frequents the uplands, 

 and feeds on grasshoppers. Its back is marked with 

 a greenish red that faintly resembles gold, and gives 

 rise to its name. The young are quite different in 

 plumage. 



The black-breast or ball-head is a shy and rather 

 solitary bird although it occasionally collects in 

 large flocks but it is quite fat, and frequently killed 

 in the salt marshes over the stools used for the ordi- 

 nary bay-birds. 



The yelper has a strong, rapid, and often irregular 

 flight, and a loud cry. It stools well, but escapes 

 rapidly as soon as shot at, darting from side to side- 

 in a confusing way, and returns less confidently than 

 the willet or marlin. It pursues its course generally 

 high in the clouds, whence it will drop like a stone 

 when coming to the stools. On Long Island it goes 

 by the name of big yellow-legs ; its call can be heard 

 at an immense distance, and is repeated continually 

 as it flies. Gastronomically considered, it is passa- 

 ble, and, when fat, really excellent. 



The yellow-legs, or little yellow-legs, as it is 

 termed on Long Island, is similar in appearance to 

 the yelper, but has a softer and more flute-like note, 

 and congregates in larger flocks. It stools admi- 



