GREAT SNIPE. : ll 
were young birds, scarcely full-fledged. This was on Fishburn 
Carr, between Castle Eden and Darlington. 
In Devonshire, one was shot on Shaugh Moor, September 
7th., 1850. In Cornwall, it occurred at Gwyllyn Vase, near 
Falmouth, in December, 1848. In Kent, near Dover, one. 
In Derbyshire, a few have been observed near Melbourne, in 
the autumn, at different times. In Sussex, one was shot 
near Lewes, in October, 1849. . 
Mr. Chaffey has seen it at Dodington, in Kent, in 
September, 1851. The Rev. Charles Alington procured one 
in the parish of Marsh Chapel, Lincolnshire, in the year 
1850; and A. Fuller, Esq. mentions one shot at Tetney, near 
’Grimsby, in September, 1852. In Oxfordshire, one or two 
have been found at Botley—one the end of September, 1851. 
N. Rowe, Esq., of Worcester College, Oxford, has written 
me word of one which was killed in the winter of 1851, in 
a sand-pit on the road to Botley from Oxford. It has 
occurred also in Surrey, near Godalming. 
In Ireland it has been met with. 
In Orkney, this bird appeared several times in Sanday, in 
September, 1851. 
They occur with us in the autumn on their way southwards, 
young birds principally, but also old ones which seem to 
continue to mate together. 
The Solitary Snipe is always found singly, when not in 
pairs, and never in flocks. It lies close, and rarely flies far 
if put up. It frequents the edges of swamps, and the borders 
of any small water-courses in meadows or other places. It 
is a most excellent bird to eat. When engaged with their 
young both birds are very heedless of danger, and if alarmed 
from the nest settle again close by on some little eminence. 
They fly in a heavy manner, and not very swiftly, with the 
tail spread, and usually settle again after proceeding but a 
short distance straight forwards and at a low elevation. During 
the pairing season the males soar to a great height, and make 
a drumming noise in descending, the effect of a vibration of 
the wings. When standing on the ground they generally keep 
the bill pointed towards the earth, and with the neck shortened. 
They walk in an easy manner, but do not run fast. 
They feed on the caddis, or larve, of flies, as also on worms 
and insects, swallowing therewith a little sand. The cases of 
the former, and any other hard portions of their food, are 
reported to be cast up in pellets. They seek thew food in 
