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

by Robert Barnwell Roosevelt

---

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 andImportance.—The proper Shooting Seasons.—The Impolicyof using Batteries and Pivot-Guns.	[7]
[CHAPTER II.]
Guns and Gunnery.—Breech-loaders compared with Muzzle-loaders.—ASharp Review of the “Dead Shot.”—TheField Trial.	[27]
[CHAPTER III.]
Bay-snipe Shooting.—The Birds, their Habits, Peculiarities,and places of Resort.—Stools and Whistles.—Dress andImplements appropriate to their pursuit.—Their Namesand Mode of Capture.	[66]
[CHAPTER IV.]
The New Jersey Coast.—Jersey Girls and their pleasantways.—The peculiarities of Bay-snipe further elucidated.—Mosquitoesrampant.—Good Shooting and “Fancy”Sport.—Shipwrecks and Ghosts.	[98]
[CHAPTER V.]
Bay-Birds.—Particular Descriptions and Scientific Characteristics.—AComplete Account of each Variety.	[140]
[CHAPTER VI.]
Montauk Point.—American Golden Plover or Frost-Bird.—ATrue Story of Three Thousand in a Flock.—Lester’sTavern.—Good Eating, Fine Fishing, and SplendidShooting.—The Nepeague Beach.	[178]
[CHAPTER VII.]
Rail and Rail-Shooting.—Seasons, Localities, and Incidentsof 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 andNewfoundland.—Western Sport.—Equipment.	[205]
[CHAPTER IX.]
Duck-Shooting on the Inland Lakes.—The Club House.—PracticalViews of Practical Men.—Moral Tales.—ADay’s Fishing.—The Closing Scenes.	[219]
[CHAPTER X.]
Suggestions to Sportsmen.—A Definition of the Term.—CrackShots.—The Art of Shooting.—The Art of notShooting.	[271]
[CHAPTER XI.]
Trap-Shooting.—Its Justification.—The Assistants.—Rulesand Regulations.—Care of Birds.—Tricks of theTrade.	[288]
[APPENDIX.]
Ornithological Descriptions of the Geese and Ducks, withRemarks and Suggestions on their Habits.—Rules ofTrap-shooting.	[303]