Habits and Habitat of Snipe, 155 



turning late and laden from a foray amongst 

 the pike of that prolific little river, a sound 

 like that of a distant winnowing - machine 

 arose suddenly In the air, and looking upward 

 I was astonished to see a flock of at least 

 three hundred snipe sweep over my head 

 and alight in the very field in which I 

 walked. There was a bright full moon ; 

 their long bills were strongly silhouetted as 

 the birds drifted like a puff of dark smoke 

 across the silver surface ; except for the 

 velvety rustle of many wings, they flew in 

 profound silence only a few yards above 

 me. Next afternoon I was in the same place 

 again, and was much interested to see the 

 owner of the land just about to walk the 

 field with his gun as I arrived. He put up 

 only three snipe from the ground which, for 

 one night at least, must have held as many 

 hundreds, and bagging all three was mightily 

 pleased at his good fortune. The Recording 

 Angel has not so many good actions down 

 to my account that I can afford to forego 

 laying a little flattering unction to my soul 



