308 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 
Nor is there much reason to doubt that both in the 
north and south of Hurope the numbers of this species, 
as wellas of the woodcock, have been sensibly diminished 
through the craving for sport of the irrepressible 
gunner,* especially when prolonged till late in spring. 
Mr. Lubbock remarks, that the snipe “has, perhaps, 
diminished less in numbers than most of the marsh 
birds,” and this may still be said of it after a further 
interval of five and twenty years; since, so long as the 
broads maintain any portion of their natural condition, 
the “‘ whole” snipe, as it is provincially termed, to dis- 
tinguish it from the “half” or jack snipe, will continue 
to be met with in greater or less plenty according 
270) was written by no less an authority than the late Mr. Yarrell ; 
and is here specially worthy of notice, since his remarks were 
founded “ on observation and experience, as a naturalist and sports- 
man, in the eastern part of the county of Norfolk.” At one period 
of his life that distinguished Ornithologist was a constant visitor 
to Yarmouth and its neighbourhood, where he died on the Ist 
of September, 1856. In this instance, therefore, in quoting 
Yarrell, I must be understood to refer only to the above letter, 
with regard to the arrival of snipe in our marshes early in the 
autumn. But writing, it must be remembered, as long since as 
1829, he says, “in the latter part of August, we have a much greater 
number of snipes on our marshes than were bred in the neighbour- 
hood. ‘This I have constantly regarded as a congregating and 
migration of the snipes bred in the northern part of this kingdom.” 
Those arriving in September and October, particularly after gales 
from the east and north-east, he always regarded “as bred in 
foreign countries.” 
* A correspondent in the “ Field” of April 8th, 1865 (p. 233), 
writing on the “progressive and rapid deterioration of snipe 
shooting in Ireland,” attributes it not so much to drainage 
as to “guns for the million, no game certificate ever asked for, 
save, perhaps, in some rare instance from a gentleman,—the 
facility of transmitting game from all parts of the country to the 
large towns and the metropolis; and, consequently, a ready sale 
and high price for the contents of the poacher’s pocket.” The 
writer also supports his theory with some very forcible evidence. 
