The Wild-Fowlers 153 



should exclude the clapper rail, the little 

 spotted sandpiper, and one or two other 

 small species. A few pairs of these 

 pipers do nest along our tide creeks and 

 trout streams, and the clapper rail 

 [meadow hen] is a regular breeder on 

 our salt meadows. But, as you say, the 

 great body of wild fowl and shore birds 

 do not breed here. They visit us on 

 their way to the great nesting grounds in 

 the far north. They flight in here for a 

 little rest and food, and they are easily 

 taken by hundreds aye, by thousands. 

 They are gentle in the spring-time when 

 they are engaged in selecting their mates, 

 and they do not possess a true game 

 quality, in flavor or character/* 



" Quite true, quite true/* cried both 

 the doctors in chorus, Doctor Bradley 

 adding : ' * We all feel that way about 

 spring gunning, and we will not be sorry 

 when April is counted among the months 

 of closed time. Some of the greedy fel- 

 lows gun for snipe and plover all through 



