Sbore-bird Shooting 457 



Young plumage — Upper parts, lighter and marked with yellow, 

 with white spots more or less rounded ; narrow lines on neck 

 and breast, more numerous ; under parts, pure white. 



Downy young — Upper parts, olive-yellow, spotted with black; hind 

 neck and lower parts, white ; black lines on side of crown, from 

 bill to eye, and below eye. 



Measurements — Length, n inches; wing, 7.50 inches; culmen, 1.25 

 inches ; tarsus, 2 inches. 



Eggs — Four in number; pyriform in shape; ground color, light 

 drab, spotted with brown ; measure 2 by 1.40 inches. 



Habitat — Breeds in Russian Lapland, and northern Siberia, the 

 Yukon Delta (?), Franklin Bay, Melville Peninsula, and probably 

 northern Greenland. Winters from Portugal and the coasts of 

 the Mediterranean to South Africa; from India and southern 

 China to Australia ; and from the Bahamas, West Indies, North 

 Carolina, Louisiana, and California, south to Brazil, Paraguay, 

 and Peru. Occurs throughout the United States in migration, 

 but most common on the coast. Occurs also in Bermuda, 

 Hawaii, and many other ocean islands. 



The clear, plaintive note of the blackbreast is 

 the most musical sound of the shore and tells of 

 a wild bird. Early August sees the first small 

 flocks, and from Cape Cod to North Carolina 

 they are found where the falling tide leaves ex- 

 posed extensive sand-flats and where marshes 

 and wild ocean beaches afford a resting-place at 

 high water. Its whistle, often heard before the 

 flock is seen, warns the gunner to lie low, and 

 soon the line of dark birds comes in view, flying 

 close to the water with grace and speed, heading 

 straight for the decoys. One or two on set wings 

 circle within range, but quick to notice the 

 slightest motion are up and off while you hesi- 



