Snipe. 2 7 



birds which had been so seriously wounded 

 or otherwise injured in the autumn as to 

 make them unable or unwilling to face the 

 fatigues of a long over-sea flight — a circum- 

 stance which has been also noted occasion- 

 ally in connection with the Jack-Snipe, a bird 

 which, never breeding in this country, has 

 yet been found at rare intervals in the breed- 

 ing season. 



The Great Snipe differs in its habitat from 

 its other British relations in that it affects dry 

 in preference to marshy ground, though it will 

 never be found far from water. The bird 

 I flushed rose from low furze, but long 

 grass, heather, and bracken are its usual 

 resting-places. It may be expected rather 

 in the eastern counties than elsewhere, but 

 will be a prize wherever obtained. The 

 sportsman is recommended to examine care- 

 fully every individual bird he carries home 

 with him on his snipe -stick. Otherwise he 

 may let a treasure go, as the old lady did, 

 who in her husband's absence one day sold 

 to a passing pedlar an arm-chair which her 



