( 234 ) 



with black ; sides of the head, neck and a large portion of the 

 breast, grayish-brown, streaked with dusky ; chin white ; a streak 

 of dark brown before the eye, continuing to the nostril — directly 

 above a faint line of white ; back dark brown ; feathers margined 

 with white ; primary qnills dark brown — shaft of the first white ; 

 outer secondaries slightly edged with while ; tail feathers brown, 

 margined with brownish-white — two middle feathers darker, long- 

 est, and more pointed ; lower part of the breast, abdomen, and 

 sides of the body, and under tail coverts white ; feet dull yellow ; 

 tibia bare, about half the length. Female, the general plumage 

 lighter. Length nine inches and a half, wing five and a quarter. 



During some seasons, this species is quite plentiful on the shores 

 of Long Island. It is generally overlooked by the gunners, and I 

 find that most of our sportsmen are not aware of the claims it has 

 to their attention. 



In the spring I have never met with it in large numbers, and 

 from this circumstance I am inclined to the opinion that it passes 

 on to its breeding grounds with but little delay. In the latter part 

 of August it returns, and increased numbers appear on the necks 

 of land in the immediate vicinity of tide water, and are also found 

 in the islands in the bay- Although large numbers are sometimes 

 seen occupying the same feeding grounds, still there appears to be 

 a great want of sociability among them — each one seemingly so 

 intent on providing for its own comfort, as to be entirely regardless 

 of those of its companions. 



When feeding, the flock scatter over the bare places that occur 

 on the moist grounds which they inhabit ; and when thus employ- 

 ed, are silent. They are by no means wary, and regard the ap- 

 proach of the gunner with indifference. On one occasion, I fel 1 in with 

 a large number, the nearest one of which I walked up to within 

 close shooting distance, seemingly entirely unnoticed. Notwith- 

 standing there were upwards of forty in view, they were so widely 

 distributed that I could not get two in a range, nor did I during my 

 operations, which were continued until I had procured twenty-one 

 of the number. At the report of my gun, those that were not sin- 

 gled out, flew on a short distance, and resumed their occupation as 



