THE SNIPES. 405 



woodcock flushed by the dogs when flying at ahout six feet 

 from the ground, that was bearing an unfledged young one in 

 her claws. It seemed to me she grasped it by the wings; 

 one foot having hold of the one wing, and the other foot of 

 the other. Though in consequence of intervening boughs, I 

 did not observe the old bird when she rose, I was fortunately 

 so near to her as clearly to see what I have stated. I after- 

 wards found two other young ones under a neighbouring 

 bush, where they had retreated for shelter." 



The Great Snipe (Dubbel Beckasin, or Double Snipe, 

 Sw. ; S. major, Gmel.) was pretty common with us, and a 

 few bred, as I believe, in our vicinity. It is also pretty 

 common throughout the southern and more central parts of 

 the peninsula ; but would not seem to be found farther to 

 the northward than about the 60 of latitude. It is pretty 

 common in Denmark. -Migrates. 



The Common Snipe (Enkel Beckasin, or Single Snipe, 

 Sw. ; S. Gallinago, Linn.) was plentiful during the fall of 

 the year in the vicinity of Ronnum, and stragglers, as we 

 had reason to believe, nested with us. This bird is found 

 almost everywhere in Scandinavia, as high up as the 70 of 

 latitude. It is much more common, however, in the midland 

 and southern parts of the peninsula than in the far north. In 

 Denmark it is common. Migrates. 



From the singular note with us called drumming of 

 this bird during the breeding season, it is in Finland desig- 

 nated Taivanwushi, or goat of the heavens, and in Ger- 

 many Himmel-Ziege, which has the same signification. In 

 Norway, again, where this peculiar note is imagined to 

 resemble the neighing of a horse, it has obtained the appel- 

 lation of Skodde-Foll, or horse of the mist ; and in the 



