BAY-SHOOTING. 275 



rarer than the preceding. These are respectively known 

 to the gunners, as the " marlin," and the " ring-tailed 

 marlin," and are famous for their watchfulness, which will 

 scarce admit of approach, unless one, by chance, be 

 brought down wounded, when the flock will circle around 

 him, plaintively screaming, and will even allow several 

 shots to be fired into them in succession. 



It is singular, that while every bird of all the tribe has 

 its own peculiar name among the baymen and gunners, 

 who make confusion worse confounded by their nomencla- 

 tive barbarisms, not one by any accident stumbles on its 

 true denomination. 



Thus the red-breasted sandpiper, Tringa Islandica, 

 which is one of the most numerous and best of these birds, 

 and a general favorite with the gunners, as being easily 

 whistled to the stools, and consequently affording great 

 sport, becomes the " robin snipe," owing to its resem- 

 blance to the migratory thrush, or common robin of this 

 country. In winter, the plumage of this bird turns gray 

 above and pure white below, when he becomes the " white 

 robin snipe." 



In like manner, the red-backed sandpiper, Tringa 

 Alpina, becomes the " black-breasted plover," and when 

 his plumage is changed in cold weather, the " winter snipe." 

 He flies quickly in crowded flocks, and wheels frequently 

 as if by a signal, when great numbers are often killed at a 

 shot. 



This confusion of names is very troublesome to the 

 young sportsman, who has any turn for natural history — 

 for the furtherance of which beautiful study alone, I think 



