BAY BIRDS. 837 
species is found extensively on the Western prairies, where 
it associates with the golden and upland plover, and flies 
in flocks with them. These flocks may be approached by 
using a horse and wagon, as they manifest little fear of 
quadrupeds; and, being addicted to flying low, large bags 
can be made very frequently, especially on the bare and 
open plains. Notwithstanding the abundance of bay 
birds, they do not afford such good sport as other feath- 
ered game, as dogs cannot be used in their pursuit, so 
that one of the most picturesque elements of sport is 
wanting. All that is to be done then, is to avoid detec- 
tion, and shoot the birds when they come within range. 
In shooting them along shore, sportsmen conceal them- 
selves in blinds made of sedges,-and fire away at them 
when they descend to the decoys planted along the beach. 
These decoys are usually rude imitations of the black- 
bellied plover, each being mounted on a single peg. The 
birds frequently hover over the stools until they receive 
four or five volleys, as they seem to think there is no ne- 
cessity for alarm when they see their wooden images rest- 
ing quietly on their perches. It is sometimes amusing to 
note how they watch the decoys during a volley, for 
they eye them in the most peculiar manner, and wheel 
around them, as if they were trying to find out why they 
did not attempt to flee from the leaden hail which was 
decimating the ranks of their living congeners. This 
habit of flying around the decoys enables a man to kill 
them in large numbers, it being nothing unusual for a 
man to bag a hundred brace of bay birds in a day, and 
even more if they are very numerous, as he may kill 
thirty or forty at every discharge of his gun, if he is an 
expert wild-fowler. 
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