counties of England,, in Ireland, in Scotland and its islands,
than here with us in the south. Still, the quantity produced,
in the whole of the British Islands bears but a small proportion
to the numbers seen here, so generally dispersed, during
winter, which probably visit us during that season from various
parts of • Scandinavia, and leave us again in March, frequently
shifting their ground under the influence of the
weather.
The Common Snipe breeds both in Cornwall and Devonshire:
I have also received the eggs from; Dorsetshire, and
from the New Forest in Hampshire. White of Selbome, in
that part of his Journal published by Mr. Jesse, says, under
date of July 30th, “ Young Snipes were seen at the Bishop
of Winchester’s table, at Famham. Castle, on"this day.. They
had bred on all the moory heaths of this neighbourhood.” I
have bought the young birds, when three parts grown, in the
London market. The Rev. Leonard Jenyns, in reference do
Cambridgeshire, says, “ Many of these birds remain with us
the whole year, and breed constantly in Burwell and Swaff-
ham fens;” and under date of June 15th, 1837, “ Common
Snipe taken in Burwell fen, with two young onesNrecently
hatched.” The Rev. Richard Lubbock writes me word from
Norfolk, that these birds breed there in considerable numbers,
which, however, fluctuate greatly in different years, and are
never sufficient to account for the number which sometimes
appear in August, in which month as many Snipes may often
be killed as at any time of the year. • Mr. Selby says, “ In
addition to our native Snipes, great flights come annually
from Norway, and other northern parts of Europe; and in
Northumberland they arrive in the greatest numbers in the
beginning of November. They seldom remain long in one
situation, moving from place to place, under the regulation
of various causes; so that the sportsman, who has enjoyed
excellent Snipe-shooting one day, may find the same spots
entirely deserted on the following. Towards the énd of
March, or beginning of April, Snipes, having nearly perfected
their summer or nuptial plumage, select appropriate
places for nidification, and the male bird commences'his calls
of invitation for a mate, These are always uttered upon the
wing, and consist of a piping or, .clicking note, often repeated,
and accompanied at intervals. by a humming or bleating
noise, not unlike that of a goat,* apparently produced by a
peculiar action of the wings, as the bird, whenever this sound
is emitted, is observed to descend with great velocity, and
with a trembling motion of the pinions. At this season it
soars to. aiyimmense height, remaining long upon the wing ;.
and its, notes may frequently be heard when the bird itself
is far beydnd the reach of sight. These flights are performed
at intervals during the day, but more commonly towards the
evening, and are continued during the whole time that the
. female is engaged in incubation;” Mr. Selby, who was in
Sutherlandshire in';the summer*of 1834, observed that the
Common Snipe was very abundant there in all the moory and
marshy tracts.
Sir Humphrey Davy says,. “ In the heather surrounding
a small lake in the island of Hoy, in the Orkney's, I found,
in the month of August in 1817, the nests of ten or twelve
couple of. Snipes. I was grouse-shooting, and my dog continually
pointed them; and, as there were Sometimes three
young ones and two old in the nest, the scent was very
powerful. From accident of the season, these Snipes were
very late in being hatched, for they usually fly before the
middle of July ; but this year, even as late as the 15 th of
August, there were many young Snipes that had not yet their
wing-feathers. The nest is very inartificial, the eggs large,
and the young ones soon become of an enormous size, being
I * In France, one of the names by which the Common Snipe is known, is
that of ‘ ‘ Chèvre volant,”