THE JACK SNIPE 
LIMNOCRYPTES GALLINULA 
LocaL names in surrounding counties : 
Status IN British AvirAuNA : A common if somewhat 
locally distributed winter visitor. 
RapraL DisTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: The Jack Snipe is a tolerably well-known winter 
visitor to many parts of the Metropolitan area, perhaps 
more generally dispersed than the Common Snipe, 
because it is far less fastidious in its choice of a haunt. 
In the more immediate suburbs I find it of regular occur- 
rence in the Norwood and Mitcham districts, and thence 
in various localities round Croydon. It is a regular 
winter visitor to the Middlesex portion of our radius 
from Bushey, northwards through Hounslow, Osterley, 
Southall, Wembley, Sudbury, Harrow, Pinner, Kingsbury, 
Enfield, and Potters Bar. Waltham, Epping, and Wan- 
stead are the chief resorts in Essex in the immediate 
neighbourhood of London; whilst the Kentish Crays 
are noted haunts further south. I have flushed the 
Jack Snipe from allotment gardens between Harlesden 
and Willesden Green, and from marshy meadows near 
the Fever Hospital at Neasden. Indeed, I am inclined 
to think that this bird is not only commoner near the 
Metropolis than is generally supposed, but visits many 
localities where it has hitherto escaped the notice of 
persons competent to identify it. 
A few Jack Snipes reach the London area as early as 
September, but the majority arrive in October and 
November. It is very remarkable not only how a very 
small patch of wet suitable ground will content this 
species, but how amazingly regular the same spot will be 
tenanted year after year, even if, as, unfortunately, too 
often happens, the birds are shot whilst occupying it. 
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