190 Twelve Months With 



I knew them at once by the slight downward curve 

 of their bills. In winter these little sandpipers are 

 called "leadbacks," having rather inconspicuous 

 dull brownish-gray plumage, but the downward 

 curve of their bills is a sure mark of identification, 

 as it is peculiar to this species. In summer plum- 

 age the upper parts are broadly margined with 

 rufous, or reddish brown, whence its name, and the 

 middle of the belly is marked with a large black 

 patch. The bird is about an inch and a half longer 

 than the semipalmated, and about a half inch 

 longer than the spotted sandpiper. Its unsuspi- 

 cious character makes it appear rather stupid, and 

 it is also less active than most members of its fam- 

 ily. It is quite a common bird in this latitude 

 during the spring and fall migrations. Generally 

 speaking the red-backs are shore or beach birds, 

 but they are sometimes to be found in grassy 

 marshes. 



Another interesting member of the same family 

 (scolopacidae) which is always found in grassy 

 marshes and fresh water swamps is the Wilson's 

 or jack snipe. This little bird is a late migrant, 

 often remaining with us until the last of Novem- 

 ber. It is a favorite with sportsmen because of the 

 delicacy of its flesh and because it taxes the skill of 

 the hunter to the utmost. When I was a boy and 

 had yet acquired no scruples against shooting any- 

 thing called game, I once in the course of a day's 

 hunt came upon six of these little snipe in a 

 meadow swamp. The swamp was a small patch 



