CH. VI.] SNIPES SQUIERELS. 221 



I believe I have never heard of Snipes breeding 

 in the Island, but I shot one, I am ashamed to say, 

 some years ago, on the 24th of April, when he 

 ought to have been thinking about a nest. I 

 could, however, find no trace of one where he 

 rose. They have never been very abundant with 

 us, and, having been of late years gradually " dried 

 out" by (as a sportsman would say) the fatal in- 

 roads of drainage, from many places which formerly 

 held them, there are now comparatively few to be 

 met with, and those generally only within circum- 

 scribed limits, and under favourable circumstances. 



Squirrels, which are now tolerably abundant in 

 the quiet woodlands of the Isle of Wight, were, it 

 is believed, first introduced there by the late Sir 

 John Barrington, about fifty or sixty years ago. 

 The act caused great excitement at the time, it 

 being reported that Sir John "had been and 

 brought m foxes" then proscribed animals. Foxes 

 however were actually introduced about fifteen 

 years ago, and a well ordered pack of hounds, 

 affording excellent sport, is the consequence. 



I am afraid Squirrels are mischievous little 

 fellows, and as bad gamekeepers as they are gar- 

 deners, having, I fancy, a partiality for eggs as 

 well as fruit. However, I would willingly remain 



