JACK' SNIPE.
the bitch round the pool, she made straight for tho side of a small drain near which we had passed, and
immediately picked up a second. It was obvious this bird had been previously detected, but the living
mouthful already secured would have rendered another capture impossible'. Glenlyon was by no means
a favoured resort of the Jack Snipe, some ten or twenty couples being the utmost brought to bag during
any season I remained in the district. The birds, however, put in an appearance as early as in any
locality 1 am acquainted with. But a single Jack has ben entered in my notes as observed in advance
of the Glenlyon birds (September 20); this was shot September IS, 1S70, near Hiekling in Norfolk.
Large flights make their appearance in the ens! of Norfolk early in October, the 7th and Oth being
dates on which I have found them particularly numerous in Hie neighbourhood of the broads. On one
occasion (October 21, 1871), while shooting on the rondos round lleigham Sounds, twelve birds were
dropped in rapid succession without stirring a fool, as fast as the cartridges could bo inserted in tho
gun. Between forty and fifty Jacks must have been Bushed within gun-hot, the birds rising in some
instances Iwo or three together, but for the most part singly, each striking out a course for itself.
Snipe, both " whole " and Jack, were in immense numbers on that occasion, and, strange to say, lay well,
which is seldom the ease when found in wisps or thickly scattered over the ground. A rough morning
with heavy showers had been succeeded by a soaking rain, which continued without intermission till after
dark. I only became aware of the arrival of the Snipe late in the afternoon on my way towards the
broads to learn if the storm bad driven in any fowl from the coast. There was little more than an
hour of daylight afler I reached the spot—added to which my small stock of cartridges was speedily
shot away, and all chance of further sport effectually put a stop to. Twelve and a half couple of Snipes
(principally ,laeks| were obtained ; but a heavy bag might have been secured, not w ithstanding the inclemency
of the weather, had I commenced operations earlier in the day, well supplied with ammunition. A few
days previous (October Dili), I met with a party of Jacks on a small marsh known as Ludhain Hover;
they were twenty in number, and every bird was brought to liag. In this instance "whole" Snipe were
conspicuous by their nbsence; though at various times I have seen from liftv to one hundred collected
on this piece of marshland, but a single bird was sprung on this occasion and (both barrels being empty at
the moment) he escaped.
Pevensey Level in days gone by was a great resort for Jacks, immense flights being oceasionally mot
with. The first week in lVcomber 1800, and early in March 18G0, these binls as well as "whole"
Snipe were especially plentiful. The numbers visiting this locality have, during the past twenty years,
fallen off, and the some may lie said concerning certain parts of Bomitey Marsh in Kent. Parly in
lSEo, the "whole" Snipe were apparently driven from the county by the severity of the weather in tineast
of Sussex ; Jacks, however, were little affected, being found in more than usual abundance scattered
along the course of nny open water or running sireams. During the longqirotracled and biltcr frost of
that terrible winter, I was handed over to a keeper in my father's service to be inilialcil into the art
of shooting Jack Snipes—broken in, as the old man termed it. As the plan In* followed was decidedly
effective and, In the best of my knowledge, original, it may not be out of place to devote a few
lines to a description of his mode of tuition. A Jock Snipe, my instructor truly argued, was almost
invariably missed through firing too quickly, both barrels being usually discharged IncfOrc the bird
is five and twenty yards from the muzzle of the gun. This error was expressly pointed out, and I was
forced lo repeat aloud one, two, three, four, five, six, after the Snipe rose on wing, before bringing the
gun to the shoulder. The lirsl lesson being duly impressed on my mind, the antiquated tnug/lc-loadcr
JACK SNIPE.
was placed in my hands and practice next attempted. There was little difficulty in finding birds during
that inclement season; a defective penstock to a large fish-pond permitted a Constant supply of running water
to cseape over several acres of marshland when' springs also existed, and here tho .lacks delighted 1 o congregate.
Should a Snipe he Hushed, and the numbers fairly counted before firing, I was allowed to continue shooting
even though a miss resulted. Supposing tho gun was discharged before the six was reached, no
allowance was made for a kill. The keeper then claimed the gun for the succeeding chance, and practically
demonstrated how easily, when bis directions wore followed, the slaughter of these bewildering birds might
be accomplished. It is hard on thirty years since I profited by these lessons; hut even now the wellremembered
one, two, three, fto. frequently rises to my lips when the inevitable Jack appears, and ill
luck invariably attends the bird that is patiently waited for.
On a cold wintry evening in March 180D, while shooting near Tain, on tho east coast of lloss-shire, I
watched a Jack, which flew in from the direction of the sea, alight on the shore of a small frozen burn.
On being closely approached, ho strutted slowly up to the soft and freshly (alien snow covering the banks, and
deliberately thrust his head out of sight in the drift. For several minutes this singular bird retained bis
position, making, indeed, nut the slightest attempt to escape till a stick was inserted in the snow and a
portion of his hiding-place crumbled away. lie then went off in the habitual perplexing fashion of his
race, as if nothing unusual had occurred. This is the only instance I have witnessed of a .lack conducting
himself in such a strange manner. The bird might doubtless have been picked up, so deeply did he
bury his head in the snow-drift. That he was previously wounded was improbable, having been observed
on wing for a longer flight than is usually undertaken by this spoeios.
The Jaok, uulike its larger relative the •' whole" Snipe, is seldom wild and unapproachable. I never met
with them gathered into flocks, Hying and settling in company after the manner of those birds. Ten or a
dozen up to even forty or fifty may frequently be found scattered over a small space ; but on rising on wing
the company break up and separate. Though usually dropping after a short and erratic flight, I have often
seen Jacks go oil' strong on wing, with an evident intention of leaving tho locality.
The difficulty of finding and putting up these strange birds is well know u to all sportsmen ; w if bout a
steady dog accustomed to their habits, large numbers must invariably be passed over. Jaeks may
frequonily be detected squatting on the moist ground, the attention usually being attracted by the eye or
the yellow stripes on the back. On one occasion, while cautiously making my way across a waving hog' over
which my weight was causing the water to rise rapidly to a depth of three or four inches, I noticed three
floated off the short herbage and rushes on which they were squatted and swept down to my feet by
the force of the current before they attempted to take wing, one of the birds being carried by the rush
of the water a distance of three or four yards. The poor little fellow made no attempt to swim, the legs
being kept perfectly still, and the head remaining drawn hack between the shoulders, with tho beak pointed
forwards in the position into which they subside when danger approaches.
In one instance where a dealer in birds attempted to effect a capture, a not was placed completely over
the small patch of rushes to which a couple were accustomed to resort. The ground having been brushed
over with a switch without result, it was imagined the birds were absent; the moment, however, the
net was withdrawn, up started the two Jacks.
In some remote districts in the fen countries there is, or used to be, an Impression aiming the old
gunners that the Jack and the " whole " Snipe wore one and the same species—Jacks being the males.
• Tin' ground in this reed-lid vv:i9 exicidiiigly ibiijji-ruiis ill many parlt-. A thin cuke of mil li.ul li.iiiiol over the rottcu twuinp, iiitcrapcucd
km ami there villi lullingut rliimr* of nuh<i, liar.' patches of mini baiaf lift at interval- where only a slmnil at tea of vegetation
[hawed ihriuicli. The whole nurture nnred and sunk over a space of several yards when ciwecd. ihe water gradually rising. (In such spott,