Lake Umbagog, Maine.
Outlet Marshes.
1894
Sept.12
(No 3)
On afterwards skinning the Baird's Sandpipers I found that
both were females in good condition but not nearly so fat
as Waders usually are at this season.
  Starting down river under sail I had gone only a short
distance when five Pectorals came flying past at very long
range. I fired one barrel only bringing down a single bird.
The other four alighted on the flat opposite the entrance
to Leonard's Pond. I followed and on reaching the place
quickly discovered two of the birds standing motionless
among some thin grass. Although I knew that the other
two must be very near I could not see them but I
presently made out a Wilson's Snipe standing not far
from the Pectorals in a statuesque attitude and only
partially concealed by the grass. After a little he came
out on the bare mud and began feeding with the
Pectorals. All three birds "bored" in an essentially similar
manner but the downward thrusts of the Snipe were
more rapid and vigorous than those of his companions
and he seemed to have much more success, bringing
up and swallowing something at every second or third
thrust. I did not wish to kill the Snipe sitting but
one of the Pectorals looked so much like a Baird's
Sandpiper that when the two came together I fired
and all three birds fell. When I landed to pick
them up I found the other two Pectorals standing
stock still among the grass. I flushed them &
tried for a double shot but fired only one barrel
and missed with that.
[margin]Pectoral
Sandpipers[/margin]
  Soon after this Jim came with the boat bringing some
stakes to drive into the mud out on the marsh