THE SNIPE. 161 
the best of the Shore-birds. It is easily called down to 
the decoys by a well simulated whistle, and is conse- 
quently killed in great numbers. : 
The Red-backed Sandpiper, Zringa Alpina, generally 
known as the “ Black-breasted Plover.” It is a restless, 
active and nimble bird, flies in dense bodies, whirling at 
a given signal; and at such times a single shot will fre- 
quently bring down many birds. In October itis usually 
very fat, and is considered excellent eating. In its 
autumnal plumage it is generally known to fowlers as 
the “ Winter Snipe.” 
The Pectoral Sandpiper, Zringa pectoralis. This is a 
much smaller, but really delicious species, particularly 
when killed on the upland meadows, which it frequents 
late in the spring and early in the summer, and on which 
I have killed it lying well to the dog, which will point 
it, while spring snipe-shooting. On Long Island it is 
known as the “Meadow Snipe,” or “Short Neck;” on 
the Jersey shores, about Ege Harbor, where it sometimes 
lingers until the early part of November, it is called the 
“Fat Bird,” a title which it well merits; and in Penn- 
sylvania, where it occurs frequently, is often termed the 
“ Jack Snipe.” It is these blunders in nomenclature, 
and multiplication of local misnomers, which render all 
distinctions of sportsmanship so almost incomprehensible 
to the inhabitants of distant districts, and so perplexing 
to the youthful naturalist. During the autumn of 1849 
I killed the Pectoral Sandpiper in great numbers, to- 
