BAY-SHOOTING. 281 



These examples, of course, must be regarded as chance 

 occurrences, and are not to be looked for as likely to befall 

 the sportsman of to-day. Still, if he try the sport in the 

 right season, wind and weather favoring, he will not be 

 unusually fortunate if he fill a bushel basket with the pro- 

 ceeds of a day's shooting in the bays and on the beaches. 



The bulk of these birds have left the seaboard of the 

 United States by the end of June at the latest ; in the 

 month of August they return from their Northern breeding 

 places, and remain with us until late in November ; being 

 like the English snipe, much tamer and more settled in 

 their habits than in the spring, and consequently affording 

 far more sport to their pursuer. They are, however, for 

 the most part, less troubled at this season than in spring 

 by legitimate sportsmen, owing to the fact, that the real 

 shooting season has commenced, and that game more 

 genuine and more attractive is to be had on all sides. 



