128 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



September and leaving in March or April, but occasionally a 

 few non -breeding birds remain all summer. 



"Jack "is a diminutive, and thus well applied to this very 

 small snipe ; indeed, its size alone is sufficient for identification. 

 But when seen on the ground — no easy matter, for it loves thick 

 cover — the absence of the central buff streak on its dark-brown 

 head separates it from the other two snipe. Its twelve pointed, 

 dark, pale-edged tail feathers are an even surer distinction, and 

 its bill is short, nearly an inch and a half shorter than that of 

 the Common Snipe. Though most sportsmen affirm that the 

 bird rises silently and does not zigzag, neither statement is 

 strictly correct. I put up a wisp of five and each bird uttered 

 a low, weak, but perfectly distinct call as it rose ; another bird 

 called the first time I flushed it, but though disturbed two or 

 three times later made no further sound. Seebohm emphatically 

 declares that it zigzags as much as the Common Snipe, but this 

 is not my experience ; it is slower on the wing, and its uncertain 

 dodges do not appear to have such sharp angles ; it changes 

 direction more deliberately. Mathew aptly speaks of its " butter- 

 fly flight." It seldom flies far, often not more than twenty yards, 

 before it drops abruptly into cover, and, unless again forced to 

 take wing, remains in hiding. Indeed, it will sometimes crouch 

 so as to baffle the searcher, and even allow a dog to pick it up. 

 When drumming, the Common Snipe certainly appears to carry 

 its bill straight before it, but it is not easy to see the position 

 \\hen the flushed bird flies from the observer ; I have, however, 

 seen the slower Jack hold its bill inclined downward like that 

 of the flying Woodcock. Not infrequently nests, said to be of 

 the Jack Snipe, have been reported from our islands, but when- 

 ever investigation has been possible they have been shown to 

 be those of some other species, usually the Dunlin. 



The most marked difl*erences between the plumage of the 

 Jack and Common Snipe have been mentioned, but in addition 

 this bird has a broad buff stripe over the eye and two dark 



