( )K.\iTHOLOGV 



321 



An Experience with Wilson's Snipe. 



]'.\ i:i)\\ AKI) I'. IMCF.IJ i\\ . 



A Wilson's snipe seriously injured, 

 supposably by a cat. was found in the 

 marshes not far from ArcAdiA. The 

 bird's life was saved by driving away the 

 cat, but whether or not tlie l)ird had been 



lover of fresh-water marslies, where it 

 may be sometimes surprised along* the 

 bank of a slugg'ish stream, with its long 

 flexible bill buried to its base in the soft 

 mud, as it 'bores' for insects. 



"The Wilson's snipe has always been 

 a favorite bird with the sportsman, not 



THIS BIRD'S IN7URY WAS SHOWN IX ITS REM ARKAliLl-: TAMEXESS. 



previously injured is not known. It 

 seemed to be in full possession of all of 

 its physical ability, and was apparently 

 not lamed either in wing- or leg. It was 

 remarkably tame. It was easily held in 

 the hand, and showed the slightest wild- 

 ness. It died soon after its rescue. 



Mr. Harry G. Higbee writes of the 

 bird as follow-s : 



■'This bird, belonging to the family 

 Scolopacidae, which includes the curlews, 

 yellowlegs. w^oodcock and sandpipers, is 

 not an uncommon migrant along our 

 eastern coast in both spring and fall, 

 being present in this locality usually in 

 April and early ^lay, in the fall from 

 September to November. It nests prin- 

 cipally north of the United States and 

 winters southward to Brazil, though it 

 casually extends its breeding range south- 

 ward to our middle states and its winter 

 range as far north as New England. 

 Being: a bird of solitarv habits, it is a 



only on account of its esteemed delicacy 

 as food, but also for the exciting sport 

 which it gives the hunter. These birds, 

 known also as 'Jack Snipe,' lie close, and 

 with their excellent protective coloring 

 often entirely escape observation on the 

 brown meadows of the early fall. When 

 they do take wing, it is so suddenly, and 

 followed by so zigzag and erratic a flight 

 that a good marksman is needed to stop 

 one. This sudden spring into the air is 

 usually accompanied by a series of hoarse 

 and somewhat startling cries that add to 

 the excitement and exhiliration of the 

 pursuit. A low- drumming or bleating 

 note caused by the rushing of the air 

 through the wings, as the bird descends 

 rapidly from a considerable height, is 

 said to be produced principally in the 

 mating season. A peculiar vocal note has 

 also been credited to the bird at this time. 

 I have never personally heard either of 

 these sounds. 



