SNIPE- SHOO TING. 



205 



at Snipe shot here in a season was 959, and that 

 was during the winter of 1877-78. I have never 

 seen more than four or five Jack Snipe in a day, 

 many days none at all ; taking them on an average, 

 not more than two or three birds a day throughout 

 the season, so that I should say about here they 

 hardly bore a proportion of one in forty to the 

 Common Snipe ; neither did I ever know or hear 

 of an authenticated case of their breeding in this 

 country, though I saw one whilst Flapper-shooting 

 in July this summer, but think probably it was a 

 wounded bird that had remained behind." 



In addition to this information, Mr. Gethin has 

 kindly sent me the following extracts from his game- 

 books, which speak for themselves ; they include 

 some of his best days in various years, and show 

 not only how early Snipe visit Ireland, but also how 

 numerously they must breed there : 



1873- 



September 28th, Snipe 44 



October ii th, Snipe 47 



1 7th, Snipe 41 



2oth, Snipe 38 



3 ist, Snipe 32 



November 6th, Snipe 50 



loth, Snipe 41 



1 3th, Snipe 3 1 



1 5th, Snipe 36 



J 



In 9 days, 360 Snipe. 



1874. 



November 2nd, Snipe 32 



December 5th, Snipe 56 



January 7th, Snipe 39 



1 2th, Snipe 46 



February 2ist, Snipe 36 



1 



In 5 days, 209 Snipe. 



