Chapter I: Front Matter

The
Celebrated Sporting Works
OF
ROBERT B. ROOSEVELT.

I.

The Game Fish of the North

II.

Superior Fishing.

III.

The Game Birds of the North.

⁂ _All published uniform with this volume,
handsomely bound in cloth, price $2.00.
Sent free by mail on receipt
of price_,

BY

Carleton, Publisher,
New York.

THE
GAME-BIRDS
OF THE
COASTS AND LAKES OF THE NORTHERN STATES
OF AMERICA.

A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE SPORTING ALONG OUR SEASHORES
AND INLAND WATERS, WITH A COMPARISON
OF THE MERITS OF BREECH-LOADERS
AND MUZZLE-LOADERS.

BY ROBERT B. ROOSEVELT,
AUTHOR OF “THE GAME-FISH OF NORTH AMERICA,” “SUPERIOR FISHING,”
“COUNTRY LIFE,” ETC., ETC.

NEW YORK:
_Carleton, Publisher, 413 Broadway._
M DCCC LXVI.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by

GEO. W. CARLETON,

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of New York.

THE NEW YORK PRINTING COMPANY,
_81, 83, and 85 Centre Street_,
NEW YORK.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

Game of Ancient and Modern Days.--Its Protection and Importance.--The proper Shooting Seasons.--The Impolicy of using Batteries and Pivot-Guns. 7

CHAPTER II.

Guns and Gunnery.--Breech-loaders compared with Muzzle-loaders.--A Sharp Review of the “Dead Shot.”--The Field Trial. 27

CHAPTER III.

Bay-snipe Shooting.--The Birds, their Habits, Peculiarities, and places of Resort.--Stools and Whistles.--Dress and Implements appropriate to their pursuit.--Their Names and Mode of Capture. 66

CHAPTER IV.

The New Jersey Coast.--Jersey Girls and their pleasant ways.--The peculiarities of Bay-snipe further elucidated.--Mosquitoes rampant.--Good Shooting and “Fancy” Sport.--Shipwrecks and Ghosts. 98

CHAPTER V.

Bay-Birds.--Particular Descriptions and Scientific Characteristics.--A Complete Account of each Variety. 140

CHAPTER VI.

Montauk Point.--American Golden Plover or Frost-Bird.--A True Story of Three Thousand in a Flock.--Lester’s Tavern.--Good Eating, Fine Fishing, and Splendid Shooting.--The Nepeague Beach. 178

CHAPTER VII.

Rail and Rail-Shooting.--Seasons, Localities, and Incidents of Sport.--Use of Breech-loader or Muzzle-loader.--Equipment. 190

CHAPTER VIII.

Wild-Fowl Shooting.--General Directions, from Boats, Blinds, or Batteries.--Retrievers from Baltimore and Newfoundland.--Western Sport.--Equipment. 205

CHAPTER IX.

Duck-Shooting on the Inland Lakes.--The Club House.--Practical Views of Practical Men.--Moral Tales.--A Day’s Fishing.--The Closing Scenes. 219

CHAPTER X.

Suggestions to Sportsmen.--A Definition of the Term.--Crack Shots.--The Art of Shooting.--The Art of not Shooting. 271

CHAPTER XI.

Trap-Shooting.--Its Justification.--The Assistants.--Rules and Regulations.--Care of Birds.--Tricks of the Trade. 288

APPENDIX.

Ornithological Descriptions of the Geese and Ducks, with Remarks and Suggestions on their Habits.--Rules of Trap-shooting. 303

THE GAME BIRDS OF THE NORTH.