James Newman Willis (NC, 1907-1951), Four Beach Robins on Driftwood

Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, circa 1930, carved and painted wood, iron bill and stake, loosely mounted to wood base.

Length 26 in.

James Willis, Jr was the first caretaker for the Atlantic Beach Hotel. He later became mayor of Atlantic Beach. His wife was the postmaster. Although shorebird hunting had long been outlawed, it was still a common practice on North Carolina's barrier islands and inland shores. "Hunting shorebirds was like a religion," said his son James N. Willis III. "I can still smell the beach robins on the stove cooking."

Original paint, lightly hit by shot, surface corrosion to the iron bill and stake.

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