The Wizard of the Wetlands 39 



of-the-wing-deceives-the-eye order, appear to warrant 

 the title herewith bestowed. 



And with all his eccentricities he is a good little 

 wizard and one of the best loved of all our lesser 

 game. Once a snipe shooter always a snipe shooter 

 might be truly said, for it is questionable if even the 

 Bob White has more valiant champions than stand 

 ready to defend the honor of the long-billed, bent- 

 winged master of the mud. 



The snipe, properly Wilson's snipe, Gallinago 

 delicata, but commonly known as English snipe 

 and wrongfully called half-a-dozen other names, is a 

 widely distributed species. It visits every state at 

 some season; its northward migration extends 

 within the Arctic Circle, while it is known to go 

 southward to northern South America and the 

 West Indies. Comparatively few of the birds which 

 move northward from February until May breed 

 south of the international line. It is quite true 

 there are breeding grounds at various points of the 

 Northern states, but the great breeding range 

 extends from latitude 42 north to some undeter- 

 mined point much nearer the Pole than most 

 sportsmen will venture. 



Some time in September the first south-bound 

 birds pass below the Canadian grounds, and soon 

 most of the suitable marshy bits of East and West 

 have their share of long-billed prizes. Then begins 

 an astonishing attack, which extends from ocean to 

 ocean and gradually sweeps southward from Canada 

 to California. Probably tons of lead, half of which 

 is wasted, are fired at the artful dodger. 



The sexes are alike, the description being as fol- 



