286 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



entirely to the most likely ground for Snipe — not 

 carinof whether he met with a Woodcock or not — 

 whilst another would do exactly the reverse, and 

 make the Woodcock his first consideration. Before 

 saying anything about sport in connection with this 

 species, let me refer briefly to its migration and 

 residence with us. 



We look for the Snipe much about the same time 

 as the Woodcock, that is towards the end of 

 October ; and I think prevailing wind and age of 

 moon also have some determining influence in 

 regard to its bein^ a bit earlier or later than the 

 usual time. The Snipe comes to us in winter from 

 northern latitudes, as in the summer its habitat is in 

 Northern Europe. 



Mr. W. H. Hudson gives Scandinavia as the 

 locality. It arrives on our east coast like the Wood- 

 cock, and destroys itself in the same way by flying 

 ao-ainst lanterns of liorhthouses. Like the Wood- 

 cock, too, I believe, it makes its way down to, and 

 along, our south coast, taking Lundy Island in the 

 Bristol Channel, eti route for Ireland, where it 

 spreads over the country. 



In regard to the Snipe's residence with us and its 

 breeding-grounds, Howard Saunders says that it 

 " still breeds in England and Wales wherever 

 drainaofe has not abolished the localities suited to its 

 habits, and it is comparatively abundant in the 

 marshes of Suffolk, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire, 

 whilst generally distributed on the northern moor- 

 lands and up to a considerable elevation in Scotland 



