COMMON SNIPE. 307 
has been the case in other counties, and particularly in 
Huntingdonshire, where the once celebrated Wittlesea 
Mere now waves with corn crops instead of reeds. 
Yet, when snipes bred numerously in those fens,* the 
migratory flights in autumn, combined with others 
performing the same southward movement, afforded good 
sport in our own marshes, under certain conditions 
of wind and temperature. Still further afield also, the 
ereat increase in the number of erouse-shooters in Scot- 
land, of late years, will account for a considerable 
number of snipe bagged in the early part of the season 
which would otherwise pass on to us with the first frost.+ 
oasis, not much larger than a good sized garden, was evergreen, and 
all the year haunted by snipes—never more so than in the breeding 
season, when, perhaps it is no exaggeration to say that, there may 
have been from a dozen toa score of pairs. About the time that the 
late Duke of Grafton succeeded to his father, the farm on which 
the Hunhill-lows are was let to a new tenant, who, being of a more 
enterprizing character than his predecessor, began the usual course 
of agricultural improvements. A drain was cut straight from the 
spring, and a direct outfall made for the water instead of its being 
allowed to find its own way, and in so doing to promote the growth 
of the rough herbage. Sheep, even breeding ewes, came to pasture 
in summer without fear of the rot, and in winter black cattle 
grazed without a chance of being bogged. The surface soon 
became almost as smooth as a well kept lawn, and the snipes of 
course vanished. 
* Tt would appear that formerly in the “Fen” district, many 
more snipes were snared than shot, being thus of more value for 
the table. The snaring was generally practiced during hard 
weather, when there were but few runs of open water. The 
snares were of horse-hair, and set wherever the ground was “ soft.” 
This custom, however, has never, I believe, prevailed much in the 
‘** Broad ” district. 
+ Mr. Lubbock, in his “ Fauna,” mentions an excellent letter on 
British snipes, under the signature of “ H. V.D.,” in the second 
volume of “ Loudon’s Magazine of Natural History” (p. 143), which, 
according to a note in Thompsons “ Birds of Ireland” (vol. ii, p. 
2Rn2 
