THE SNIPE. 161 



the best of the Shore-birds. It is easily called down to 

 the decoys by a well simulated whistle, and is conse- 

 quently killed in great numbers. 



The Ked-backed Sandpiper, Tringa Alpina, generally 

 known as the " Black-breasted Plover." It is a restless, 

 active and nimble bird, flies in dense bodies, whirling at 

 a given signal ; and at such times a single shot will fre- 

 quently bring down many birds. In October it is usually 

 very fat, and is considered excellent eating. In its 

 autumnal plumage it is generally known to fowlers as 

 the "Winter Snipe." 



The Pectoral Sandpiper, Tringa, pectwalis. This is a 

 much smaller, but really delicious species, particularly 

 when killed on the upland meadows, which it frequents 

 late in the spring and early in the summer, and on which 

 I have killed it lying well to the dog, which will point 

 it, while spring snipe-shooting. On Long Island it is 

 known as the " Meadow Snipe," or " Short Neck ;" on 

 the Jersey shores, about Egg Harbor, where it sometimes 

 lingers until the early part of November, it is called the 

 " Fat Bird," a title which it well merits ; and in Penn- 

 sylvania, where it occurs frequently, is often termed the 

 " Jack Snipe." It is these blunders in nomenclature, 

 and multiplication of local misnomers, which render all 

 distinctions of sportsmanship so almost incomprehensible 

 to the inhabitants of distant districts, and so perplexing 

 to the youthful naturalist. During the autumn of 1849 

 I killed the Pectoral Sandpiper in great numbers, to- 



