234 THE JERSEY COAST. 



elegance, and willingly sleep, if not in the same room, 

 in chambers that lead into one another ; but it is 

 situated within a hundred yards of the best shooting 

 ground, and is as well kept as any other tavern on 

 the beach. Sportsmen do not mind waiting their 

 turn to use the solitary wash basin, drawing water 

 from the hogshead, or wiping on the same towel, 

 but are thankful for good food, and the luxury of a 

 well filled ice-house. 



In addition to the general directions heretofore 

 given, it may be well in this connexion to describe 

 more particularly the mode of killing bay-snipe. A 

 number of imitation birds, usually called stools, are 

 cut from wood, and painted to resemble the various 

 species ; they have a long stick, or leg, inserted into 

 the lower part of the body, and a sufficient number 

 to constitute a large flock arc set up in shallow 

 water, or upon some bar where the birds are accus- 

 tomed to feed. They are made from thin wood, or 

 even from tin, and are headed various ways so as to 

 show in all directions ; the coarsest and least perfect 

 imitations will answer. 



The most remarkable trait of the shore birds, or 

 bay-snipe, is their gregarious nature and sociability. 

 A flock flying high in air, apparently intent upon 

 some settled course, "will, the moment they see ano- 

 ther flock feeding, turn and join it. Their natural 

 history, or the object which they evidently have in 

 thus joining forces, does not seem to be understood ; 

 but the baymen, by imitation-birds and calls, take 

 advantage of this instinct. Farther south, along the 



