26 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
flocks, this species is readily decoyed, and is noted for its unsus¬ 
picious and gentle manner. 
“ The Red-breasted Snipe is fond of frequenting the fresh ponds 
that occur on the lower parts of the beach, or meadow, during 
wet seasons, which situations are more favorable for procuring 
it, and attended with but little or no fatigue to the gunner, wh 
lies concealed in the rank grass that grows on the salt mea 
dows ; or, when shooting over ‘ decoys’ placed in ponds on th 
beach, he adopts concealment by making a bed of sea-weed, or 
cut grass, at a convenient shooting distance. Thus concealed, 
he has an opportunity of observing what is passing around him. 
Should a wandering flock meet his eye, or the notes of a distant 
group fall upon his ear, he pipes his shrill whistle in accord¬ 
ance with their peculiar cry, which is answered by the leaders 
of the roving band, and echoed by the wily gunner, whose 
hopes now mount high, as he sees them check their course, 
wheel, and advance towards the decoys, whose well-trimmed, 
though silent forms, are made partners to the treachery. 
“ If suffered to alight, it is not unusual for it to spend several 
minutes in feeding among the decoys before it discovers the 
deception. Flying close together, and being proverbial for 
hovering over the silent gioup that leads them to destruction, the 
gunner thins their ranks by pouring into the body of the flock 
his deadly fire. Notwithstanding great havoc is made, it not 
unfrequently happens that some of those which escape, return 
and alight among the dead bodies of their companions, sharing 
—with the reloading of the gunner’s piece—their fate. 
“ In dry seasons, when the shallow ponds have disappeared, 
the scattered flock is observed along the muddy flats, wading 
about in the shoal water, though seldom venturing beyond knee- 
deep, and seldom to so great a depth. Even in this exposed 
situation, but little address is required to approach within shoot¬ 
ing distance. I have often had opportunities of witnessing 
their dullness, in being apprised of danger, while they were 
feeding in company with various species of shore birds. 
“ Long before the gunner thinks of taking aim, the watchful 
