MONTAUK POINT. 187 



stools, before breakfast, among which are two spe- 

 cimens of the beautiful Esquimaux Curlew or Fute, 

 as he is commonly called, and which seems to be on 

 terms of the closest intimacy with our Golden friend. 

 We find him to be a heavier bird, equally inclined 

 to obesity, and, as future experiments satisfy us, 

 nearly as perfect in delicate richness of flavor. 



At nine o'clock Dobbin is again harnessed, and 

 we start for the scene of yesterday's exploit. But 

 the sighing wind now sweeps over only a deserted 

 moor, and we direct our course towards Stratton's, 

 to make an inspection of Great Pond. Here, by 

 good luck and management, we bag five teal and a 

 black duck, as well as three passing plover. A few 

 large flocks of the latter are seen, but they are wary 

 and unapproachable; and after several fruitless ef- 

 forts, we abandon their pursuit and start for dinner. 



Having rendered full justice to the merits of a 

 bountiful repast, which, if it is made prominent in 

 this account, was still more prominent in our hungry 

 thoughts, we stroll to the ocean-side and make a 

 dozen casts for bass, but our luck seems to be on the 

 turn and we decide to leave on the morrow for 

 Greenport. About an hour before sunset, a few 

 birds are on the wing, and we again seek the field 

 of our first success. Here we make our final effort, 

 and are rewarded with five noble victims, killed singly 

 at long shots, and we restore our breech-loader to 

 its case. We have no reason to be dissatisfied with 

 our four-days' sport, and it is with a certain reluc- 

 tance, and a sincere resolve to renew our visit at an 



