308 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



Nor is there much reason to doubt that both in the 

 north and south of Europe the numbers of this species, 

 as well as of the w6odcock, have been sensibly diminished 

 through the craving for sport of the irrepressible 

 gunner,* especially when prolonged till late in spring. 



Mr. Liibbock remarks, that the snipe " has, perhaps, 

 diminished less in numbers than most of the marsh 

 birds," and this may still be said of it after a further 

 interval of five and twenty years ; since, so long as the 

 broads maintain any portion of their natural condition, 

 the " whole " snipe, as it is provincially termed, to dis- 

 tinguish it from the "half" or jack snipe, will continue 

 to be met with in greater or less plenty according 



270) was written by no less an authority than the late Mr. Yarrell ; 

 and is here specially worthy of notice, since his remarks were 

 founded " on observation and experience, as a naturalist and sports- 

 man, in the eastern part of the county of Norfolk." At one period 

 of his life that distinguished Ornithologist was a constant visitor 

 to Yarmouth and its neighbourhood, where he died on the 1st 

 of September, 1856. In this instance, therefore, in quoting 

 Yarrell, I must be understood to refer only to the above letter, 

 with regard to the arrival of snipe in our marshes early in the 

 autumn. But writing, it must be remembered, as long since as 

 1829, he says, " in the latter part of August, we have a much greater 

 number of snipes on our marshes than were bred in the neighbour- 

 hood. This I have constantly regarded as a congregating and 

 migration of the snipes bred in the northern part of this kingdom." 

 Those arriving in September and October, particularly after gales 

 from the east and north-east, he always regarded "as bred in 

 foreign countries." 



* A correspondent in the "Field" of April 8th, 1865 (p. 233), 

 writing on the "progressive and rapid deterioration of snipe 

 shooting in Ireland," attributes it not so much to drainage 

 as to " guns for the million, no game certificate ever asked for, 

 save, perhaps, in some rare instance from a gentleman, the 

 facility of transmitting game from all parts of the country to the 

 large towns and the metropolis ; and, consequently, a ready sale 

 and high price for the contents of the poacher's pocket." The 

 writer also supports his theory with some very forcible evidence. 



