180 COMMON SNIPE, 



permanently remain, but in all districts we believe 

 that a partial migration takes place, and we receive 

 a large accession of numbers about the period of the 

 arrival of our earliest winter visiters, which again, 

 in part at least, remove with the coming spring. 

 The general character of the English counties is 

 rather unfavourable for this bird, but wherever these 

 are suitable, it abounds. As we proceed to the north- 

 ward, the moisture and moorlands increase, and 

 with them the Snipe, and it reaches and increases 

 in numbers, even to the most distant of the Hebri- 

 des. In the breeding season, the relative frequency 

 of incubation is comparative with its numbers ; and, 

 on reaching the Scottish border, it may be said to 

 breed every where. The localities preferred at this 

 time, are the edges of marshy grounds ; or, where 

 these are very extensive, some drier spot amidst 

 the lower moors, and the borders of the northern 

 lochs. In the south, the marshes in the commons, 

 and the open marshy valleys in the tracts called 

 forests, are frequented by them. The nest is placed 

 on some dry raised tuft or hillock, and it is a pressed 

 or scraped hollow, the little herbage that is present 

 being used, rather than a nest formed of carried 

 materials. At this season, or when the pairing has 

 commenced, the birds may be heard piping among 

 the herbage, or may be both seen and heard in the 

 air, performing their evolutions, and uttering the 

 loud drumming sound, which, at one time, gave 

 rise to so much discussion in regard to the manner 

 Hi which it was performed. The sound is never 



