270 MANUAL FOE YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



Virginianus, of which the preceding is a splendid and 

 correct sketch — a distinct variety from the sora, easily 

 recognized by its long recurved bill, and closely assimilat- 

 ing to the English water-rail — is often shot, together 

 with the pectoral sandpiper, which latter is known in some 

 parts of the country as the jacksnipc. 



The Virginia rail lies very hard, and creeps among the 

 grass and rushes like a mouse, to the great discomfiture of 

 the dogs, which can hardly force it up. 



When flushed it flies, like the sora, with its legs hang- 

 ing down, but even more slowly. It is easily brought 

 down, carrying little shot, and is delicious eating. 



The pectoral sandpiper is a somewhat smaller bird 

 than the English snipe, light brown on the upper parts, 

 speckled with black and olive, and pure white below. It 

 has a short bill of perhaps three-quarters of an inch, 

 slightly curved downward ; feeds in small flocks, but for 

 the most part rises singly with a feeble whistle, lying well 

 to the dog, which points it stanchly, and affording at times 

 excellent sport, on springy upland meadows. It is not in 

 the least degree fishy, and is admirable on the table. I 

 was once, before I knew what was the bird I was shooting, 

 so fortunate as to kill eighteen couple of these capital 

 little birds, with nearly the same number of English snipe, 

 on the Big Piece, as it is called, on the Passaic river, in 

 New Jersey. But that was before birds were persecuted, 

 as they now are, on their feeding grounds, and before 

 shooting for the market had become a branch of market 

 gardening and railroad-business. 



