12 
RED-BREASTED SNIPE. 
crowd together, are apt to launch upwards in the air for awhile, and after 
performing several evolutions in contrary directions, glide towards the 
ground, and wend their way close to it, until finding a suitable place, they 
alight in a very compact body, and stand for a moment. Sometimes, as if 
alarmed, they recommence their meandering flight, and after awhile return 
to the same spot, alighting in the same manner. Then is the time when the 
gunner may carry havoc amongst them ; but in two or three minutes they 
separate and search for food, when you must cither put them up to have a 
good shot, or wait the arrival of another flock at the same place, which often 
happens, for these birds seldom suffer any of their species to pass without 
sending them a note of invitation. It is not at all uncommon to shoot 
twenty or thirty of them at once. I have been present when 127 were 
killed by discharging three barrels, and have heard of many dozens having 
been procured at a shot. When wounded and brought to the water, they 
try in vain to dive, and on reaching the nearest part of the shore, they 
usually run a few steps and squat among the grass, when it becomes difficult 
to find them, Those which have escaped unhurt often remain looking upon 
their dead companions, sometimes waiting until shot at a second time. 
When they are fat, they afford good eating, but their flesh is at no time so 
savoury as that of the common American Snipe, 
The cry of this species when on wing is a single and rather mellow weet. 
When on the ground I have heard them emit a continued guttural rolling 
sound, such as is on certain occasions given out by the species last mentioned. 
Their call noto resembles the soft and pleasing sound of a whistle ; but I have 
never heard them omit it while travelling. Nothing is known respecting 
their breeding, and yet there can bo little doubt that many of them must 
rear young within the limits of the Union. 
By the Creolos of Louisiana the Red-breasted Snipe is named “ Booassine 
de Mer,” as well as “ Carouk.” In South Carolina it is more abundant in 
the autumnal months than in spring, when I should think they fly directly 
across from theFloridas towards Cape Hatteras, as my friend Dr. Bachman 
informs me that he never saw one of them in spring in the vicinity of 
Charleston. 
Rf.d-breasted Snipe, Scolopax noveboraccnsis , Wils. Amev. Orn.,vol. vii. p. 48. 
Soropax grisea, Bonap. Syn., p. 330. 
Scolopax noveboracensis, New York Godivit, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer, 
vol. ii. p. 398, 
Brown or Red-breasted Snipe, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 181. 
Red-breasted Snipe, Scolopax noveboracensis, Aud. Ora. Biog., vol. iv. p. 285. 
Adult, 10*, 18i. 
