How to tell if waders, gulls and dotterels are fresh or stale

To Chuse the Shuffler, Godwitz, Marrel, Knots, Gulls, Dotters, and Wheatears

These birds, when new, are limber footed; when stale, dry footed: when fat, they have a fat rump; when lean, a close and hard one; when young their legs are s