10 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
upper parts are ash-gray, variegated with black and pale yel¬ 
lowish-red; lower parts, including the throat and fore-neck, 
brownish-orange. In autumn, the upper parts are ash-gray, 
margined with dull white; rumpf and upper tail coverts, barred 
with black and white; lower parts white; the sides of the body 
marked with dusky; a dull white line over the eye. Adult in 
spring—bill black ; a broad band of reddish brown commences 
at the base of the upper mandible, extends half way to the eye, 
where it changes to reddish-brown; upper part of head and 
the hind neck dusky, the feathers margined with greyish-white ; 
a few touches of pale reddish-brown on the latter; throat, fore¬ 
neck, breast, and abdomen, reddish-brown ; vent white ; lower 
tail coverts white, spotted with dusky; upper plumage blackish- 
brown ; upper tail coverts barred with black and white ; tail 
pale brown, margined with white; primary coverts black, tipped 
with white ; secondary coverts grayish-brown, margined with 
white. Young, with the upper parts grayish-brown, the feathers 
with central dusky streaks, a narrow line of cinnamon color 
toward their margins, which are dull white; the lower parts 
ash-gray. Length of adult, ten inches, wing six and three- 
quarters. 
“ This species is familiar to our gunnel's by the name of Robin 
Snipe. In the great South Bay, Long Island, where those im¬ 
mense salt marshes are separated by creeks and channels, a 
number of beautiful islands appear, differing in size and form, 
each having an appropriate name; they form quite an interest¬ 
ing feature in the geography of the island; there the Red¬ 
breasted Sandpiper, during its short stay in the spring, takes up 
its abode. Shortly after daylight, it commences its daily labor 
in search of food, visiting the shoal ponds that abound with small 
shell-fish, on which they chiefly subsist. The wily gunner, eager 
to profit by the ready sale of this superior bird, makes early 
preparation to receive them; lying concealed near their favo¬ 
rite haunts, by imitating their peculiar note, he thins their ranks 
Dy bringing them within reach of his well-directed gun. 
“ At the period for migrating, this species assemble in flocks. 
