1 66 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



It is one of the hardest birds to put up on the 

 wing, and one of the most puzzHng and trying to 

 sporting dogs, for it will double back, dodge, and 

 resort to any artifice sooner than fly out into the 

 open. When forced, however, by some energetic 

 not-to-be-denied spaniel to take flight, i.e., when 

 taken unawares, or driven into some corner from 

 which there is no escape, the bird gets up in a 

 lumbering sort of way with legs dangling down, and 

 flying very slowly drops down again into the nearest 

 cover of which it quickly avails itself. Hearing the 

 shots of the guns around it, and knowing its own 

 weakness in regard to flight, are probably the reasons 

 why this bird sticks so closely to cover. 



It is more common in England in suitable 

 localities, such as the Fen District, or Norfolk 

 Broads, than elsewhere, but, at the same time, 

 Howard Saunders says that "In Scotland it is 

 found on the mainland and also on the outlying 

 islands," etc. Again, '' In Ireland it is also sedentary 

 though more frequently remarked in winter." 



I have found the species very plentiful in 

 Pembrokeshire when shooting Snipe in the winter. 

 I had several of them set up, but owing to the birds 

 not being cased for a long time the moth got into 

 them, thus rendering them valueless. The present 

 specimens were given me by Mr. W. R. Hine, 

 Naturalist, Southport, as 1 had neither the time nor 

 the opportunity to shoot any more myself. 



Mr. W. Swaysland says in regard to this species, 

 that its voice " is a discordant croak uttered usually 



