Habits and Habitat of Snipe. 173 



only an acre in extent, In the midst perhaps of 

 thousands of acres of firmer soil. They are 

 not uncommonly found about the sources of 

 streams, and invariably hold a vast population 

 of snipe. The suddenness with which every 

 bird will leap up from every portion of the 

 bog, very often before he has hardly set foot 

 upon it at all, much less fired a shot, is in- 

 conceivable to the tyro, and not easily ex- 

 plained by any one. It is probable that 

 instantaneous news of an enemy's approach 

 is Marconigrammed all over the marsh to 

 the sleeping birds by the quivering of the 

 jelly-like ground beneath them. Even a light 

 footfall along an apparently firm river-bank 

 will often cause similar widespread alarm and 

 scurry amongst fish. Snipe may lie after they 

 have seen you, they may do so even when they 

 have heard your voice ; but your slow pro- 

 gress over shuddering morass they never 

 await. 



