2°70 MANUAL FOR 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 jacksnipe. 
The Virginia rail lics 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 move 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. 
