190 FEATHERED GAME 



same fashion. Our hero is more dignified in 

 his manner, as befits his larger size. The 

 homes and life habits of the two are probably- 

 very similar. 



When you flush him he goes skimming away 

 just above the water ; alighting on a rock at the 

 edge, he stretches his wings aloft to their full- 

 est extent, then carefully folds them so that 

 each feather is in its proper place, and begins 

 feeding again, gathering the insects, slugs and 

 water bugs with the healthy appetite common 

 to all citizens of the great out-of-doors. 



He is a beautiful bird, though modestly ap- 

 pareled; something smaller than either ''win- 

 ter " or ' ' summer yellow-legs, ' ' but built on the 

 same graceful lines and plainly showing all the 

 characteristics of his family — long in the legs, 

 strong of wing, and equally good at the table as 

 are the other two. I think he makes a good im- 

 pression when, after being skinned, wrapped in 

 a thin piece of fat pork and enclosed in a big po- 

 tato he has been well baked. 



Sometimes in the sea marshes when the tide 

 is rising a number of these birds may be cap- 

 tured by taking a stand among the pond-holes 

 near high water mark, of course being well hid- 



