BEACH BIRDS. 173 



There are but a few methods employed in the pursuit ot these 

 birds as the habits of most of the species are identical. We have thus 

 thought best to close the chapter with a few words on this point. 



The best feeding grounds are Pelican Bar, South Bay; Egg 

 Harbor, Montauk Point, Forked River near Barnegat, several 

 promontories near Stonington, Conn., Ciirrituck Inlet, N. C, 

 and Cobb's Island on the eastern shore of Virginia. At the 

 two latter named places, shooting commences early in Sep- 

 tember, and at the former early in August. To one contem- 

 plating a visit to any of these resorts, with the view of enjoying 

 Bay bird shooting, we would give the following advice : If 

 possible, go out very early in the morning on a high flood tide, 

 taking care to select a long narrow sand-bar that is not covered at 

 high-water, and one that juts out from the mainland ; gather some 

 dry drift-wood and build a small blind, scooping out the sand. You 

 can then put out a few stools about twenty-five yards from the 

 blinds on the edge of high-water, and commence to imitate the 

 whistle of any bay bird with whose note you have become familiar ; 

 if the wind should be blowing on shore and the tide likely to be 

 very high, the sand-bars will be all covered and the birds having 

 no place to alight, fly backwards and forwards across this point 

 waiting for the tide to recede. Never pick up the wing-tipped 

 birds, as they act as decoys ; they flutter their wings, uttering shrill 

 whistles, and bring down hundreds of others to see " what is the 

 matter." As the flocks wheel around over the stools and at the 

 instant when during one of their circlings, they show their white 

 bellies, is the time to touch the trigger. You may then secure a 

 dozen birds at a single discharge. Whistling down certain kinds 

 of beach birds to decoys is practised successfully by old gunners 

 who are adepts in this art. Novices had better trust to their de- 

 coys. Another plan is to sail leisurely down on the birds as they 

 are feeding on the bars ; but if there are any Curlew there, it is 

 necessary to remain perfectly still and hide yourself. The slight- 

 est oversight on the part of the sportsman to observe these laws, 

 will cause the Curlew instantly to give the alarm and your sport is 

 nil. With everything in your favor, tides, wind, slightly foggy 

 weather, the shooting of Curlew is generally at long range. Now 

 and then you may get a shot at them as they fly over at forty yards 



