194 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



nearly approximates to tlieir insect food than any- 

 thing else. 



'' October 11th. — Until to-day Jack Snipe has 

 been ver}^ shy, hiding in the rushes on the least 

 alarm. This morning, while watching through a 

 window in the aviary, I saw him come out and feed. 

 I had previously fancied, and, indeed, read some- 

 where, that the Jack Snipe moved with the body 

 nearly horizontal like a Land Rail, but I am now 

 able to state, from my own observation, that the bird 

 walks in a very erect position, with a firm and stately 

 tread, nodding his head at ever}'- step. On seizing a 

 worm he passes it through his bill, pinching it all 

 over from end to end, and then swallows it whole. Al- 

 though he wall pick vip a w^orm from the surface, he 

 prefers boring for one and drawing it from a sod. 

 He stands in the pool which I have made for him, 

 and picks up small particles of gravel strewn on the 

 bottom, but does not appear to drink much. When 

 at rest, the head reclines upon the back, between the 

 shoulders, giving the bird the appearance of having 

 no neck ; the bill rests on the ground in front, the 

 breast touches the ground, and the tarsus and tibia 

 touch and are parallel. On the least alarm the bird 

 rises so suddenly as to cause an involuntary start on 

 the part of the observer. 



" October 12th. — At 6 a. m., this mornins', Jack 

 Snipe was alive, and apparently doing well. Before 

 coming into breakfast at nine o'clock I again visited 



