BAY-BIRDS. 151 



steady flight it is not difficult to kill ; and its food, 

 mostly shell-fish, does not contribute an unpleasant 

 flavor to its flesh. It arrives from the north about 

 the middle of August, and often lingers for some 

 time on the meadows. As the season advances its 

 plumage becomes paler, till it acquires the name of 

 white .robin-snipe although I have often seen them 

 late in August of the most beautiful and strongly 

 marked coloring, the breast being a rich brownish 

 red and the back a fine grey. 



The robin-snipe is of about the size of the dow- 

 itcher, with a shorter and more pointed bill, and 

 is killed indiscriminately on the stools with the 

 other bay-birds. Its call consists of two notes, and 

 is sharp and clear ; when well imitated, it will often 

 attract the confiding snipe to the gunner, exposed 

 in full view, and without decoys. This bird is very 

 beautiful, and a great favorite. 



"Specific Character. Bill straight, longer than the 

 head ; tarsi one inch and three-sixteenths long ; 

 rump and upper tail-coverts white, barred with 

 dark brown ; region of the vent and the lower tail- 

 coverts white, with dusky markings. In spring the 

 upper parts are ash-grey, variegated with black and 

 pale yellowish-red ; lower parts, including the throat 

 and fore-neck, brownish-orange. In autumn the 

 upper parts are ash-grey, margined with dull white ; 

 rump and upper tail-coverts barred with black and 

 white ; lower parts white ; the sides of the body 

 marked with dusky ; a dull white line over the eye. 

 Adult in spring bill black ; a broad band of reddish 



