grow all at oucc ami are of corresponding size; the old bird 

 moults gradually, and the wing feathers are of unequal lengths. 

 I think it very likely the old birds migrate so soon as they are 

 able to fly well, and not only they, but by the end of September 

 I think it probable all the Snipes breeding and bred in this 

 country leave, as it often happens none are to be found for some 

 time in autumn, but after a time some come and these pro- 

 bably come from a distance with the Woodcocks and Jacksnipes. 

 Many of the young birds so soon as ever they are able to fly well 

 leave the places entirely where they have been bred long before 

 the old birds have got through their moult ; young birds may be 

 known during winter as they retain the wing coverts of the first 

 plumage till the autumn of the next year. 



During summer Snipes used to be flying about all day making 

 their singular drumming noise with their wings, and also bleat- 

 ing away, reminding one of their name, heather bleater. It is 

 surprising what a common bird the Snipe is, notwithstanding the 

 improved state of the country and the immense numbers killed 

 each year. In suitable places it is still numerous, and probably 

 though driven from many of its former localities, it will continue 

 to be abundant. It would be a curious problem to find out 

 whence Ireland is populated with this bird are they indigenous 

 or do they migrate from more northern swamps ? We appear to 

 be exhausting the sea of its oysters ; will it be possible to ex- 

 haust the swamps of their Snipes, and which would be of the 

 most importance or most regretted ? 



Within the last thirty years Snipes used to be commonly 

 found in dirty oat stubbles where water lodged and remained in 

 the furrows ; nowadays if the rainfall is ever so great the land 

 is so completely drained, the water never remains long enough 

 to attract them ; at any rate they are seldom now found in such 

 places. While watching Wild Ducks at night when none have 

 been flying, I have sometimes shot Snipes at moonlight by the 

 water's edge when they alighted between me and the moon. 



Black Game were sometimes at Prestwick Car, but it was too 

 damp for game of other kinds. 



