188 THB 8N1PB. 



Mr. lyes, of Salem^ also informs me, that a few pain of thit 

 ipecies breed in that vicinity. 



The Snipe, almost nocturnal in its habits, conceals itself 

 nith assiduity in the long grass, sedge, and rushes of itf 

 enswamped and boggy retreat. Aware of danger from the 

 approach of the sportsman, it springs at a distance with 

 great rapidity, uttering usually a feeble squeak ; and making 

 several inflections before it takes a direct course, it becomes 

 very difficult to shoot, and is more easily caught with a 

 snare or springe similar to that which is set for woodcocks. 

 Being, deservedly, in high repute, as an exquisite flavoured 

 game, great pains are taken to obtain Snipes. 



In the spring season, on their first arrival, they are lean 

 but in the autumn, assembled towards the coast from al 

 parts of the interior, breeding even to the banks of the 

 Mississippi, they are now fat and abundant, and, accom- 

 panied by their young, are at this time met with in all the 

 low grounds and enswamped marshes along the whole range 

 of the Atlantic ; but ever shy and dexterous, they are only 

 game for the most active and eager sportsmen. When on 

 the wing, they may, like many other birds of this family, 

 be decoyed and attracted by the imitation of their voice. 



They are, like the European Snipe, which migrates to 

 winter in England, by no means averse to cold weather, so 

 long as the ground is not severely frozen, in such a manner 

 as to exclude their feeding ; so that even in Massachusetts 

 they are found occasionally down to the middle of December 



