116 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



and others on the south side of Long Island, and others equally 

 famous at Egg Harbor, in Boston Bay, and other suitable 

 places, a day's sport is nearly certain at the proper season. 



The quantity of birds killed is sometimes really astonishing; 

 the weather is generally beautiful, and if there be a breeze on 

 the water, and you take the precaution of filling your basket 

 with pleasant eatables, taking lots of ice and of good water, with 

 a quantum sriff. of anything you please, to render water drinka- 

 ble, you may pass a summer's day agreealdy enough, getting a 

 shot either at single birds, or at heavy flocks, every few minutes. 



The greatest drawbacks to the sport, are the cramped pos- 

 ture in which you are compelled to lie, or crouch, in order to 

 conceal yourself, the reflection of the sun from the glassy sur- 

 face of the water, which, if you are in the least degree thin- 

 skinned, is very like to blister, and peel off" every inch of ex- 

 posed cuticle, and, lastly, the hordes of musquitoes and gnats, 

 which, unless you are pretty thoroughly acclimated, will proba- 

 bly use you up to about as great a degree as you will use up 

 the Willets, Robins, Dowitchers, Marlins, Yellow-legs, and 

 Black-breasts. 



If, however, despising all these small annoyances, you i-eso've 

 to try the Snipe, get a good bayman, as I have advised, take 

 your two heaviest double-barrelled guns, I do not mean Duck 

 guns, but ten or twelve pounders, load with moderately coarse 

 powder and No. 5 shot — not larger to my mind ! — and lying 

 low and keejjing dark, you can scarcely fail to make a bag. 



Generally speaking, these birds are not difficult shots, and if 

 a flock comes fairly up to your decoys, and sails over them on 

 expanded wings, and circles round as if to alight, you cannot 

 miss them, and can hardly fail to make great havoc in their 

 crowded ranks. 



Sometimes, instead of being alarmed by the gunshots and 

 the fall of their companions, the simple birds will appear to 1 e 

 fascinated and attracted by the cries and fluttering of their 

 wounded associates, and will circle over and over them, giving 

 a chance for several shots; but in any event, if a large flock 



