When hunted continually, however, the beach 

 birds become very wary, and it takes a master to 

 whistle in an old "Beedehead" or "tattler." The 

 snipe is easily killed, and heavy shot is not needed. 

 No. 9 shot, and even 1 Os are usually used. 



At low tide the birds are hard to approach, as 

 they congregate on the great expanses of soft mud 

 along our coasts. As the tide rises they fly inland 

 to the large salt marshes. The hunter usually sta- 

 tions himself in a good blind near a shallow pond, 

 and as the birds are driven inland by the encroach- 

 ing water, they offer many good shots to the hidden 

 gunner. 



As beach-bird shooting is at its best in the late 

 summer, the climatic conditions are far pleasanter 

 than in duck shooting ; besides the mosquitoes and 

 hot sun there is nothing to worry the hunter. The 

 salt marshes are thirst-inducing, and the expe- 

 rienced bayman always stocks his blind with a jug 

 of cool water. 



There is something restful about shore-bird 

 shooting. Nothing is more soothing than the sound 

 of the summer wind rustling through the marsh 

 grass, and of the surf pounding on some hard sea 

 beach in the distance. Far at sea cat-boats are 

 circling about a bluefish school, and the hunter 

 becomes lost in watching the white sails until a yel- 

 low-leg's whistle from the blue sky reminds him of 

 his errand. The most difficult thing to learn in bay- 



