THE SHORE BIRDS OR WADERS 249 



shooting. The bay-birds are found not alone about 

 the shores, bays, and salt-water marshes, but most of 

 the varieties cross the interior of the country. I have 

 seen them in great abundance in the Dakotas, and 

 they are probably to be found nowhere in greater 

 abundance than there and in Texas at the proper sea- 

 sons. They now come in greatly diminished numbers 

 to the Eastern and Central States by reason of the 

 over-shooting, especially for the markets. They are 

 fortunately protected on the preserves of the numerous 

 duck clubs, and when the ducks are present are not 

 much molested, the larger game being more attractive. 

 The number of these birds which used to visit the 

 marshes about the bays of the Atlantic Coast seems 

 almost incredible. Giraud was informed by a gunner 

 residing in the vicinity of Bellport that he killed one 

 hundred and six yellow-legs by discharging both bar- 

 rels of his gun into a flock while they were sitting 

 along the beach. Wilson mentions eighty-five red- 

 breasted snipe being killed at one discharge of a mus- 

 ket. Audubon says he was present when one hundred 

 and twenty-seven were killed by discharging three 

 barrels. I have seen the birds sufficiently numerous 

 about the muddy rims of ponds in North Dakota to 

 make such shots possible, but always preferred to shoot 

 at the flying marks. I never made a pot-shot on the 

 ground, and usually left the wading-birds undisturbed, 

 preferring to use my ammunition on the sharp-tailed 

 grouse and wild-ducks, which were equally abundant. 

 I have been much inclined to eliminate many of the 

 shore-birds from my Hst of game, but the gradation 

 from the better to the poorer varieties is so slight as to 



