They begin their northward migration in March, 

 and by July are scattered throughout the Middle 

 States, and the far north, for breeding. In their 

 migrations they are found from South America to 

 the Arctic Circle; and many winter in our Southern 

 States. 



They are to be found in low, marshy ground. 

 A flooded cow-pasture is a favorite spot, but they 

 haunt both fresh and salt water marshes. 



YELLOW -LEGS, BEETLEHEAD 

 Etc. 



As the difference between the snipe and plover 

 family is largely physical, and makes little difference 

 to the sportsman, I will speak of them as one. The 

 principal birds that go to make up a shore-bird 

 hunter's bag, are the yellow-leg, beetlehead or black- 

 bellied plover, willet, dov^tcher, robin snipe, and 

 the curlews. 



The curlew is rare on the Eastern Coast of 

 America, but it is still quite plentiful in Central, and 

 Western North America. There are several species 

 of curlew; but they can be easily recognized by 

 their large size and distinctive whistle. 



Their whistle is easily imitated, and they decoy 

 readily. In fact, curlew often become confused 

 when shot at, and return again to the hunter. They 

 sometimes congregate in immense flocks during their 





