192 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



wliicli is bordered by flags, and appears to furnish 

 some specially attractive food, I have frequently put 

 up two or three of these birds at once, although, by 

 the wa}^, Mr. Yarrell says the Jack Snipe is even more 

 solitary in its habits than the Common Snipe. So 

 far as my limited experience goes, I have always been 

 led to think the contrary ; for I have often found 

 several Jack Snipe within a few yards of each other. 

 On one occasion I flushed six from about half-an- 

 acre of marsh. As a rule, they will be very close, 

 even after a gun has been fired, and will almost 

 suffer themselves to be trodden on before rising. 



One day a Jack Snipe got up, which I shot at and 

 missed, but killed with the second barrel. AVithout 

 moving, I reloaded, and, cocking my gun, made a 

 single step in advance, when another Jack Snipe 

 rose within three yards of me. This was curious ; 

 for notwithstanding the noise made by firing twice, 

 and then reloading, the bird never stirred until I 

 moved my feet. I have since thought that perhaps 

 the vibration of the ground, or the movement of the 

 herbage, caused by walking was felt by the bird, and 

 alarmed it more than the noise. The Jack Snipe 

 really appears to be so deaf that the French name 

 for it, " Becassine sourde," is not an inappropriate 

 one. It is very light, weighing only about two 

 ounces. I once watched two of these birds running 

 over the weeds in a pond, apparently in pursuit of 

 insects. On my approach they retreated hurriedly 



