The Game-Birds of the Coasts and Lakes of the Northern States of America: A full account of the sporting along our sea-shores and inland waters, with a comparison of the merits of breech-loaders and muzzle-loadersRoosevelt, Robert Barnwell
History
The Game-Birds of the Coasts and Lakes of the Northern States of America: A full account of the sporting along our sea-shores and inland waters, with a comparison of the merits of breech-loaders and muzzle-loaders
Roosevelt, Robert Barnwell
Game and game-birds -- North America; Hunting -- North America; Shotguns
This delicious and beautiful bird, although far from plentiful,
furnishes excellent sport, coming readily to stool, and flying regularly
and steadily. It mostly affects the marshy islands lying between the
salt water creeks, and derives its name from a fancied resemblance to
the robin, as he is termed among us. It is always gentle, occasionally
abundant, and generally fat and tender; by reason of its steady flight
it is not difficult to kill; and its food, mostly shell-fish, does not
contribute an unpleasant flavor to its flesh. It arrives from the north
about the middle of August, and often lingers for some time on the
meadows. As the season advances its plumage becomes paler, till it
acquires the name of white robin-snipe--although I have often seen them
late in August of the most beautiful and strongly marked coloring, the
breast being a rich brownish red and the back a fine grey.
The robin-snipe is of about the size of the dowitcher, with a shorter
and more pointed bill, and is killed indiscriminately on the stools with
the other bay-birds. Its call consists of two notes, and is sharp and
clear; when well imitated, it will often attract the confiding snipe to
the gunner, exposed in full view, and without decoys. This bird is very
beautiful, and a great favorite.
“_Specific Character._--Bill straight, longer than the head; tarsi one
inch and three-sixteenths long; rump and upper tail-coverts white,
barred with dark brown; region of the vent and the lower tail-coverts
white, with dusky markings. In spring the upper parts are ash-grey,
variegated with black and pale yellowish-red; lower parts, including the
throat and fore-neck, brownish-orange. In autumn the upper parts are
ash-grey, margined with dull white; rump 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 greyish-brown, margined with white. Young with
the upper parts greyish-brown; the feathers with central dusky streaks,
a narrow line of cinnamon-color towards their margins, which are dull
white; the lower parts ash-grey. Length of adult, ten inches; wing, six
and three-quarters.”--_Giraud._
UPLAND PLOVER.
Grey, Grass, or Field Plover.
Bartram’s Sandpiper.
_Tringà Bartramia_, Wils.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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