144 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



possessor as persistently sticking to his find. How 

 they settled the matter I do not know, for they 

 passed beyond my sight. 



MOSTLY SNIPE NOTES 



It has often been the case, in my experience, that 

 if we get snow and frost before Christmas, our 

 local gunners have what they term "a bit of 

 tolerable sport " ; but should like conditions obtain 

 only after the advent of the New Year, their chances 

 are poor enough. The following notes copied from 

 my diary are interesting as showing how a few 

 frosty days affect the Snipe. I made a few lists of 

 victims that appeared from day to day on a local 

 game stall : 



Dec. 11, 1899. A three-inch fall of snow last 

 night. Frost coming with it drove southwards 

 to this neighbourhood great numbers of Snipe. 

 Common and Jack Snipe abundant everywhere. 

 Durrant had the following birds to-day: 



Snipe, 47. 

 Lapwings, 14. 

 Dunlins, 23. 

 Wild Duck, 4. 



Jack Snipe, 17. 

 Golden Plovers, 10. 

 Wigeon, 3. 

 Woodcock, i. 



