SNIPES. 229 



knots, they are easier caught than shot in any great 

 quantity. It is ludicrous to see these birds dancing 

 round the hillocks in the spring, and particularly 

 when they dance into the springes that are set for 

 them. 



SNIPES. 



Of these there are the three following sorts : 



THE GREAT, or SOLITARY SNIPE. Scolopax media La 

 grande becassine. (As Buffon does not notice the bird, we 

 are to presume that this must be the French translation.) 



THE COMMON SNIPE, SXITE, or HEA.TIIER-BLEATER. Sco- 

 lopax gaUinago La bfaassinc. 



THE JACK SNIPE, JUDCOCK, JETCOCJC, or GID. Scolopax 

 gallinula La petite becassine. 



To kill^ac^-snipes, a pointer that will stand them 

 is the greatest possible acquisition, as they always lie 

 so very close that you are liable to walk past them. 

 These little snipes are easiest killed in a light breeze, 

 or even calm weather, as in a gale of wind they fly 

 more like butterflies than birds. Nothing teazes a 

 poking shot worse than jack-snipes, but to one who 

 has the knack of pitching and firing his gun in one 

 motion, they are, generally speaking, not much worse 

 to shoot than other small birds, except in boisterous 

 weather. 



The jack-snipes are the best eating of all the tribe. 



The " old hand" therefore keeps the jack for his 

 own eating, and sends the fine looking full snipe 



