303 WOODCOCK AND SNIPE 



way in which the common-snipe disposes of a worm, accounts differ. 

 On the one hand, Mr. De Visme Shaw tells us it is seized by the middle 

 and sucked through the " compressed mandibles, the pressure eliminat- 

 ing the slimy earth, which adheres to the bill and hardens rapidly." 

 Continuing, he remarks : " The snipe will spend many minutes cleans- 

 ing his beak after feeding at a distance from water, and he usually has 

 a thorough wash and brush up before resuming his meal." But Mr. 

 Hugh Wormald, 1 who, having succeeded in rearing a tame common- 

 snipe, had exceptional opportunities of observation as to the way in 

 which worms were disposed of, tells us that his bird, having seized a 

 worm, "sucked it down with no apparent exertion." When swallow- 

 ing, the head was not thrown back, but the neck was stretched out 

 and the beak pointed downwards. If the worm was too large to be 

 swallowed readily, it was hammered and pinched till broken up. The 

 worms 'known as "brandlings" were always refused, and this because 

 of their offensive smell, or perhaps taste, for it only distinguished 

 between raw liver and worms when they were nipped between the 

 mandibles. Sight seems to play but a secondary part in securing food, 

 for this bird was unable to see a worm "right under him." If two 

 or three were placed before him, he would walk up and feel about for 

 them with his beak. The larvae of daddy-longlegs were also greedily 

 eaten, and so also were maggots. These last wild snipe have been 

 known to obtain by probing in the carcasses of dead animals. While 

 feeding, this bird kept up a continual twitter. Sand and small 

 pebbles were constantly swallowed, and the grinding of this in the 

 gizzard could be heard distinctly at a distance of several feet, 

 especially just after feeding. This action seemed to take place 

 rhythmically, about twelve times per minute. The hearing of this bird 

 was very acute. It was often observed to listen like a thrush, when, 

 after a moment or two, it would suddenly plunge down the beak into 

 the soil and bring up a worm. 



In its feeding-habits the great-snipe does not apparently differ 



1 British Birds (magazine), ii. 249. 



