BAY-SIOOTING. 281 
These examples, of course, must be regarded as chance 
occurrences, and are not to be looked for as likely to befall 
the sportsman of to-day. Still, if he try the sport in the 
right season, wind and weather favoring, he will not be 
unusually fortunate if he fill a bushel basket with the pro- 
ceeds of a day’s shooting in the bays and on the beaches. 
The bulk of these birds have left the seaboard of the 
United States by the end of June at the latest; in the 
month of August they return from their Northern breeding 
places, and remain with us until late in November; being 
like the English snipe, much tamer and more. settled in 
their habits than in the spring, and consequently affording 
far more sport to their pursuer. They are, however, for 
the most part, less troubled at this season than in spring 
by legitimate sportsmen, owing to the fact, that the real 
shooting season has commenced, and that game more 
genuine and more attractive is to be had on all sides. 
