160 AMERICAN GAME. 



shell-fish, and fry ; after this time, commencing from the 

 beginning of October, they move southward for winter 

 quarters, although some species tarry later than others, 

 and some loitering individuals of all the species linger 

 behind until they have assumed their winter garniture, 

 when they are again liable to be mistaken for unknown 

 varieties. 



Of these misnamed Bay Snipe, the following are the 

 species of each family most prized by the sportsman and 

 the epicure, all of which are eagerly pursued by the 

 gunner, finding a ready sale at all times, although, m& 

 judice. their flesh is, for the most part, so oily, rank and 

 sedgy, that they are rather nauseous than delicate or 

 palatable. Much, however, depends on the state of 

 their condition, the nature of the food on which they 

 have fattened, and localities in which they feed ; and 

 to some persons the very flavor of which I complain 

 as rank, sedgy and fishy, appears to take the guise of an 

 agreeable haut gout. 



The Red-breasted Sandpiper, Tringa Icelandic^ 

 known on the Long Island waters, among the small 

 islets of which it is very abundant, as the " Robin 

 Snipe," by which name it is generally called, owing to 

 the resemblance of its lower plumage to that of the Red- 

 breasted Thrush, or Robin, Turdus migratorius, of this 

 continent. In autumn this bird assumes a dusky gray 

 upper, and white under plumage, and is then termed 

 the " White Robin Snipe." In point of flesh it is one of 



