JACK SNIPE. 185 



found within a limited space. We have never, 

 however, known them congregate in small parties, 

 as the common Snipe does, or rise in more than a 

 single bird at a time. It may be interesting to know 

 how the migration is performed. They are far from 

 being shy, though at times we have seen them rise 

 " wild ;" but, in general, they will allow the sports- 

 man to approach very near, sometimes within a 

 few feet, and lie squatted on the ground with the 

 head and bill stretched out before, unmindful of 

 cover, but selecting any inequality, hollow, or foot- 

 step, to screen themselves. 



In regard to the incubation of the Jack Snipe, 

 we may say, that attempts to discover its nest in 

 this country have hitherto been unavailing. Mr. 

 Yarrell has been at pains to collect all the informa- 

 tion and evidence on the subject, but, among the 

 few notices of the occurrence of the eggs, we cannot 

 trace authenticity, while the straggling instances 

 which have occurred, of the bird being sometimes 

 shot during summer, must be attributed to other 

 circumstances than the occasional remaining of some 

 pairs for the purpose of breeding. 



They are, however, as before stated, a very late 

 bird in leaving us, and are regularly seen with the 

 London poulterers in the first week of April.* In 

 an excursion to Sutherlandshire, some years since, 

 we thought we had found a breeding station for this 

 bird near Tongue. The gamekeeper there, an intel- 

 ligent man, said, that he frequently met with them 

 * Yarrell. 



