COMMON SNIPE. 305 



The eggs are four in number, and are not pointed 

 sharply like the eggs of nearly all the other birds of 

 this family. They are greyish or yellowish white in 

 ground colour, with large spots of reddish brown and 

 purplish grey. The young leave the nest as soon as 

 they are hatched. 



The old bird has been frequently known to fly with 

 its young from one place to another, carrying them 

 between its legs and pressing them to its breast with 

 its beak ; probably, it is said, to assist them to their 

 feeding grounds. 



COMMON SNIPE. 



SCOLOPAX GALLINAGO. 

 Family Charadrhd^. Genus Scolopax. 

 Whole Snipe — Snite — Heather Bleater. 



The Common Snipe breeds throughout the British 

 Islands, wherever swampy ground exists. It is con- 

 sequently found most numerously in Ireland. Its 

 numbers are largly increased by autumnal migrations. 

 The greater number of birds, like the Woodcock, retire 

 to the far North to breed. 



The Snipe frequents the swamps and marshes, how- 

 ever limited in extent, provided there is a long enough 

 growth to keep it concealed during the day, for it is a 

 nocturnal bird, and will not rise in the daytime unless 

 put up by some sportsman or flushed by a dog. Its 

 flight, when startled, is exceedingly rapid, and it moves 

 at first in zig-zag fashion, making it impossible to aim 

 with any certainty ; afterwards it adopts a straight 

 course and drops into cover again. It should there- 

 fore be fired at immediately on rising from the ground. 



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