BAY-SNIPE SHOOTING. 195 



ing on the more dainty repasts furnished by the up- 

 lands of Labrador. 



The jack-curlew is a still more wary bird, and al- 

 though he comes to the stools, rarely pauses over 

 them, and never returns after being once fired at. 

 He is seldom seen in large flocks, and flies rapidly 

 and steadily. His cry is longer than that of the 

 sickle-bill, and, like it, easy to imitate. From his 

 wariness and rarity he is regarded as the greatest 

 prize of the sportsman, although his flesh is little 

 better than that of the sickle-bill. 



The marlin is quite common, very gentle, stools 

 admirably, and goes in large flocks. In color it is 

 similar to the sickle-bill, but it is much smaller and has 

 a straight, if not slightly recurved, bill. It is attracted 

 by the same call, and is equally tough and sedgy as 

 food. The ring-tailed marlin differs from it entirely 

 in color, resembling a willet — except that its wings 

 are darker, and its tail black with a white ring — ^but 

 it has the long, straight, marlin bill. It is a rare bird, 

 seldom collects in large flocks, and is often fat and 

 tolerable eating. It does not stool as well as its 

 plainer brother, but from its scarcity and higher 

 gastronomic claims, it is more highly prized. 



The willet is greyish in general color, with a white 

 belly and broad bands of black and white across its 

 wings. It has a loud, shrill shriek, stools well, flies 

 steadily, congregates in large flocks, and when fat is 

 quite eatable. It often associates with marlins and 

 sickle-bills, where its light colors make a beautiful 

 contrast. 



