242 THE COMMON SNIPE. 



resort until it was drained. Although a few Snipe breed in 

 suitable localities throughout the county, yet it is probable 

 that most of those which we see during the shooting season 

 are visitors from the northern parts of Europe, which have 

 joined our native birds ; for this species is occasionally seen 

 on migration at the lighthouses on the Fame Islands and 

 Isle of May in autumn, and again in spring when it returns 

 northwards.^ 



There is no better sport with the gun than Snipe shoot- 

 ing when the birds are fairly plentiful, but, unfortunately, 

 this is seldom the case in Berwickshire. The " Scape, scape " 

 of the game as it rises and makes rapidly of!' with its zig-zag 

 flight is always a pleasing sound in the sportsman's ear, and 

 the first Snipe which falls to the gun in youth, like the first 

 Woodcock, is long remembered. In the Grouse shooting 

 season it is occasionally killed in small numbers in the 

 Lammermuirs, and sometimes rises before Partridge shooters 

 in damp turnip fields in the Merse. On these occasions 

 the " pallat-pleasing suite," as old Drayton calls it in his 

 Polyolbion, gives variety to the bag, and forms an agreeable 

 addition to the table afterwards. 



During severe frost and snow in winter the bird is 

 very often pressed for food, and may be seen frequenting 

 the sides of brooks, ditches, and open drains by road sides, 

 or even close to houses and villages. It is then much tamer 

 than usual, and does not fly far when disturbed. It is like- 

 wise found about the sea-side in autumn and winter. In 

 March and April, according to the season, the Snipe begins 

 to make a peculiar humming or bleating sound when on the 

 wing.2 The bird soars high up in the air, and the humming 



1 See Reports on the Migration of Birds, 1879-86. 



2 Mr. Hardy in his MS. Notes writes: "1840, March 16(h. — Snipe bleating 

 tliis morning at Penniansbiel. This is an early year. 1836, April 19th. — Snipe 

 piping to-day in the air. 1843, Jic7ie I6th. — Snipe bleating to-day." 



