BAY SNIPE. 27 



Gull unfolds its wings, and passes still farther on from danger — 

 quickly followed by the shy Willet. The less timid Yellow- 

 shanks begins to feel insecure — it moves about with hurried 

 steps — stoops to take one more morsel from the various delica- 

 cies that are profusely scattered round it — casts a glance at the 

 approaching gunner, feeling that it has lingered too long for its 

 safety, raises its wings, utters a suppressed and tremulous note, 

 and leaves to finish its repast in some distant place of greater 

 security. The host of small Sandpipers that are busily engaged 

 in gleaning their fare, become apprehensive, neglect their occu- 

 pation, take wing, and wheel oft", leaving the Red-breasted 

 Snipe alone with the gunner. The friendly * Tern,' from its 

 elevated and secure retreat, observes what is passing below, 

 flies around in circles, utteinng loud screams, urging the loiter- 

 ers to depart, which kindly warning is unheeded, until the 

 sportsman has arrived too near for the game to escape. As he 

 levels his gun, the temfied Snipe becomes aroused, springs up, 

 and the next instant lies like a clod upon the muddy shore. 



" The Red-breasted Snipe is capable of rapid and protracted 

 flight, at times performed to a great elevation. During dry 

 seasons, when in search of its favorite pools, it flies high, and at 

 such times is not so readily decoyed. At Egg Harbor, where 

 it is abundant, it is called by the gunners • Brown-back.' " 



No. 10. Semipalmated Sandpiper — Tringa Semipalmata f 

 Wilson. 



Semipalmated Sandpiper, Tringa Semipalmata, Wils. Amer. Orn. Tringa 

 Semipalmata, Bonap. Syn. Semipalmated Sandpiper, Nutt. Maun. Tringa 

 Semipalmata, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



" Specific Character. — Bill rather stout, broad toward the 

 point ; along the gap about one inch ; length of tarsi seven-eighths 

 of an inch ; bill and legs black ; toes half webbed. Adult with 

 the bill slender, about the length of the head — dark green, 

 nearly approaching to black ; head, sides, and hind part of 

 neck ash-gray, streaked with dusky ; upper parts blackish- 



