MONTAUK POINT. 303 



thing which bears the faintest resemblance to a bird 

 and a brother. It is well for his admirers that such 

 is his nature ; and although the wide appreciation 

 of his merits certainly causes great destruction among 

 his ranks, still the vast flocks which, sometimes for 

 days together, fly past, within sight of the stands, 

 unshot at, seem to warrant the hope that the hour 

 of the final extinction of his race is very far distant. 



Taking the Long Island railroad to Greenport in 

 the early part of September, and having encountered 

 and overcome the ordinary delay and difficulty of 

 obtaining a sailboat to further prosecute our voyage, 

 we find ourselves at last gliding on the waves of the 

 beautiful bay, past Shelter and Gardiner's islands, 

 and approaching the long low line of the Nepeague 

 beach. With a favorable breeze we may expect to 

 be landed on the smooth sand in a little cove, about 

 one mile from our destination, in two hours from 

 our time of departure ; but if the wind is adverse 

 and the fates unpropitious,we may have to follow the 

 path from the shore in the dark, which will require 

 our best instincts, aided by the guidance of the dis- 

 tant booming of the surf, and the assistance of our 

 especial guardian angel. 



Once there, however, and we will be repaid for 

 our sufferings; we may find a table covered with 

 " South-side " delicacies, and bearing in the centre 

 a huge dish of beautiful, odorous, melting plover, 

 cooked to a turn, and we will undoubtedly meet 

 kindred spirits and generous sportsmen who are on 

 the same errand as ourselves. As we dispose of the 



