BAY SNIPE. 
25 
latter edged with white, the former tipped with the same ; hind 
part of back white; the rump marked with roundish spots of 
blackish-brown; upper tail coverts dull white, barred with 
black ; tail feathers crossed with numerous black bands, their 
tips white; loral band dusky, the space between which and the 
medial band on the fore part of the head, grayish white, tinged 
with ferruginous, and slightly touched with dusky; sides of the 
head spotted with dark brown; lower parts dull orange-red; 
the abdomen lighter; the neck, and fore part of breast, spotted 
with dusky; the sides of the body with numerous bars of the 
same color; legs and feet dull yellowish-green. Young with 
the lower parts paler. Winter dress, the upper parts brown¬ 
ish-grey; neck ash-grey, streaked with dusky; lower parts gray¬ 
ish white, with dusky bars on the sides of the body. Length 
ten inches and a half, wing six. 
“ Our gunners, as if fearful that nothing would be left to con¬ 
nect the past with the present generation, cling to the old pro¬ 
vincial names for birds, recognising this species by the singular 
and unmeaning name of ‘ Dowitcher.’ 
** At the close of April, the Red-breasted Snipe arrive on the 
coasts of Long Island. Invited by a bountiful supply of food, 
at the reflux of the tide, it resorts to the mud-flats and shoals to 
partake of the rich supply of shell-fish and insects, which Nature 
in her plenitude has provided for it. As the tide advances, it 
retires to the bog meadows, where it is seen probing the soft 
ground for worms. In the spring, it remains with us but a 
short time. Soon after recruiting, it obeys the call of unerring 
Nature, and steers for the North, where it passes the season of 
reproduction. About the middle of July, it returns with its 
young, and continues its visit during September; and if the 
season be open, lingers about its favorite feeding grounds until 
the last of the month. 
« The whistling note of the Red-breasted, or ‘ Quail Snipe,’ 
as it is termed in some sections of the Island, is well known to 
the practical bay-gunner, and he so truly imitates it, that the 
call is obeyed at a great distance. Fond of associating in large 
