now by no means uncommon, but occurs more frequently in
autumn than in any other season : the major part of tile examples
obtained, are young birds-of the-yea^^aand from this
species being known to breed in high northern latitudes^
these autumnal visitants are seen while on their routejfo their
m ore southern winter quarters » Their "course, both in spring
and in autumn, is considered by Mr.'»Selby to Jbe generally
to the east of the longitude of the British Islands ; and I may
mention, in corroboration of tins'view,-.that I am not aware
of more than one record of the occurrence of this species in
Ireland, and in England they are most frequent in the; eastern
equn ties.
The habits of this Great Snipe, or -Solitary Snipe -as it
is often called, will be best:elucidated by référencés to the
communications and ^accounts of those who have enjoyed'opportunities
of observation in this and in other countries.
The Rev. Richard Lubbock writes me from Norfolk as follows
: Mr. Paget says of this bird, “ not. uncommon in the
autumn,” which is strictly true. I have known more than
twenty specimens come under my own observation in the
same season ; but I cannot remember a single instance» where
this Snipe has - occurred in spring.»:: I have, made many en*
quiries, and have invariably found them occurring in autumn,
generally early in-the season, óftèn in September. ' .This,
species is very frequently found in pairs, and does, not deserve
to be called Solitary On the wing it looks but little
larger than th e , Common Snipe, and may be recognised at
once by its tail, spread like a fan. Its flight is steadier and
heavier,! which may in some degree arise from the aptitude
of the bird to make fat. I have handled more than a dozen
specimens; havé shot the bird three times, myself; and all
I have seen were loaded with flesh, and fat,: I find I have
noted that Richardson, the fenman, killed six of the Great
-Snipes .in the second week of September 1835 ; four of
these birds wereA pairs, and proved male -and female re-
spectiwelyt:'-
1 Wheèsho.O'tîng dni|Sirêecten, Mr. Lloÿîd^says^ 4 the Doublé,
Or - Solitary .Snipëÿl alwa^s^'ènd singIf#o^at mostin: pairs*
These bBdâî:mr.é3.usu.ally|p.' fat in autumn as apparently to
^fdhardfy able indeed,, whény%shéd', they .usually
kprèceed but a. short < b « ta n c é id ^ ^ |M ^ é ttle again ,* their
flight is|h@^|f and btW^^and thèy ppespat.- the:"easiest .mark
j£©ssi§iei Fouri^M^fe- was! A ^ | | ^ ; g | t number .of tires#
bird's that I ever killed„ in fef w^bîB m f ^ y ©ne day* * Th âÿ J
werevbydho Seai^slplentiful in^tfe^yicinityof Gothenburg”
.,<®hat Mr. LloyfÈ^W^hot advantageously d©jcafedr. for-’ thés® I
particular birds*, may be inferred fronfe'.iÉ'hé}' aCcohnitxóÊ Mr.
Greifff - yhoi says^t^th^D ouble Snipe is‘ a bird o f passage-fti * I
Sweden,: and amongsfo Acfse which arrive’thé latèster At the
M of the teontb o f buly;èwhen the' meadows, are'mowed, thé
.shooting birds,^wèths the pointer*, cbmm'ëfcdeë», and
Continus# till towards the end ©f Septembers In the whole
round oflpffiKtang^this^afFords one of the 'greatest pleasures;
Thesedbirds are easy to -- sh<#t'?î and in^son|^pl^e@^ fifty or
sixty may.beéfMU'ed-in a day, particularly in autumn, when
theyiafei.-so1 fat that th à s almostdburst E%eir skins. They
- are »-most, dèlicio^ eating.” Mr. Greiff addS,t‘‘ I was an old
sportsman of- thirty years1 standing, „befor^it came ter my
kiiowlte^ge that Double Snipes had th e ir.A ^m s playing-
greiund. I heard thenrcry.a whofei spring,-which was- in a
marsh where I had a good orvplek,, but never observed tliem%
and therefore believed it to be some-frogs* ©r Reptiles but
at last I d-iseoyered they were Double Snipes, which1 fan like
rats among the h i l l o c k s , c r y commences with a sound
resembling the smack of th e tongue, and thereupon four m
five louder follow” »Sir Humphrey Davy says, “ an ex-?
cellent sportsman, and good observer, informs me, that, in*
the great royal decoy* or marsh-preserve, near Hanover,' he