WILSON'S SNIPE 131 



tliey have captured an ''Englisli Snipe," think- 

 ing he must be a '' better" bird than our own. 



Wilson's Snipe, under his many names, is 

 widely and favorably known in this country. 

 His winter range takes him to South America 

 and his spring flights carry him far into the 

 north. This last movement sometimes com- 

 mences in March and is usually over by the last 

 of April or the first of May. They remain 

 with us later in the fall than do any other of the 

 shore-birds. The writer has shot belated trav- 

 elers after Jack Frost had placed his signet 

 upon all the feeding places and ''pondholes" 

 above the reach of the tide. 



The Snipe has a peculiar habit called ''drum- 

 ming," not widely different from the wood- 

 cock's spring-time vagaries, and, like these, per- 

 formed when on the wing. This is said to occur 

 both during the spring and fall months, even 

 more often in the latter season. As to this I 

 cannot say, since few Snipe are seen in my sec- 

 tion during the breeding season nor is spring 

 shooting looked upon with much favor here, 

 probably more because of game scarcity at the 

 time than from any unusual virtue of our citi- 

 zens. Thus far the writer has seen this per- 



