SNIPE 291 



places where he dreams in seclusion ; but still his plump- 

 ness, greater spread of tail and characteristic flight — like 

 that of a golden plover — and the two external white-tipped 

 tail-feathers, betray him. He, too, is excellent on toast, 

 though hard to come by; for he is "more slinky," as the 

 fenmen say, and rarest of all. 



And so farewell, my grotesque birds, dedicated to the 

 chef-de-ciiisine — fare you well, with your monstrous love 

 songs, strange guzzling habits, amusing skulking flights. 

 You, too, have your poetry, after twenty minutes in a hot 

 oven — on toast ; and may you yearly bring forth your 

 beautiful little fledglings, and lead them safely down to the 

 bright waterside for aye — this baptismal pilgrimage being 

 but the forerunner of the great sacrificial feast that awaits 

 them on the table of all who are artists enough to know a 

 snipe from a hernshaw. Increase and multiply, ye grotesque 

 ones — and may the chcfht with you. . 



