SNIPE. 427 



their habits, appearing and perhaps in a few hours disappear- 

 ing so suddenly and mysteriously as to cause the formation 

 of very different theories and speculations as to what are the 

 favorable conditions for a " flight," and to make it impos- 

 sible for any person not living in the immediate vicinity of 

 the grounds, to count surely upon finding birds. As to the 

 flights, some say " clear warm weather with light westerly 

 winds," others " thick weather and southerly winds" ; some 

 look for Snipe after, and some before, a northeast rain-storm ; 

 and so on. Some say that thick weather makes them stop 

 here, others that clear weather helps them to get here. Each 

 theorist rejoices in his own wisdom, and there is not only this 

 uncertainty as to the time of arrival, but also an equally try- 

 ing one as to the locality in which the birds may be found. 



Like Woodcock, the Snipe use their long and sensitive 

 bills for probing the mud or soft earth, and the perforations 

 which they make are often tantalizing evidences of their 

 recent occupation of the grounds ; but, unlike them, they are 

 usually, though not invariably, found and shot in the " open." 

 Like Woodcock, again, they are nocturnal birds, though the 

 modified arrangement and structure of their eyes enable them 

 to show greater observation and vigilance, to make long flights, 

 and to feed, as they frequently do, by daylight. 



It is during the season of mating in spring that the actions 

 of the male birds are so remarkable and interesting. Rising 

 in the air to a great height, they dart and twist about with 

 wonderful agility, dropping plumb down from time to time in 

 the midst of these eccentric gyrations, and producing, as they 

 descend, a thrumming noise, possibly caused by forming the 

 wing into a sort of ^Eolian harp. The sound is peculiar and 

 unmistakable, resembling somewhat that made by throwing a 

 nail held crosswise in the hand, but it is much louder and 

 more full. It is said that at such times they will sometimes 

 alight temporarily on a tree or fence, but this observation the 

 author has never had the good fortune to verify, though he 

 once saw one alight upon a fence-post for a moment, not, 

 however, during an " exhibition." 



The Snipe breed in the far north, and return to us in au- 

 tumn, when they will, if permitted, remain on that ground 



