328 BIRDS OF NOEFOLK. 



On one occasion at Wheatacre Burgli, near Haddiscoe, 

 where tlie birds kept on in continuons flights across the 

 country, as larks are seen to do in southern counties, 

 taking one particular course, and thus passing on for 

 several hours. At another time, some fifteen years ago, 

 with snow on the ground, during a similar migratory 

 movement of this species, near Buckenham Horse-shoes, 

 the birds, in passing over a fence near a gateway, flew 

 so low that some were even knocked down with sticks. 

 He has also occasionally found them very plentiful on 

 the ploughed flelds, and has killed as many as flve and 

 a half couples in such localities. 



The partiality for some particular spot is as marked 

 in the snipe as the woodcock, and most snipe-shooters 

 can recall some pit-hole, drain, or spring head, where 

 invariably as the season came round a snipe (and more 

 particularly a jack), could be found. If the soil is but 

 suitable to their habits, any moist situation contents 

 them, and I remember some years back a little swamp 

 close to a residence at Hardingham, where snipes were 

 -always found in autumn. So confined was the space 

 that, at the first shot, the "whole" snipes would rise in a 

 *'wisp," and two or three jacks would be flushed by close 

 walking. If revisited again in an hour or two they 

 were sure to have returned to the same spot, and thus 

 in two or three visits as many couples might be bagged 

 in the day ; but drainage, has, I believe, since accom- 

 plished what constant shooting failed to effect, and 

 banished them for ever. 



Some of my readers will probably remember that in 

 1858-59 a discussion took place in the columns of the 

 '' Field" on the question of snipes perching at times on 

 trees or other elevati3ns ; and, in spite of the authorities 

 then cited to the contrary by the naturalist editor of 

 tliat journal, I must still maintain that such is the case, 

 and in support of my assertion could produce many 



