SNIPE. GRALLATORES. SCOLOPAX. 123 



and mud with their bills. They seldom remain long in one 

 situation, moving from place to place, under the regulation, 

 as it would appear, of the state of the weather, and the pre- 

 valence of particular winds ; so that the sportsman who has 

 enjoyed excellent snipe-shooting one day, may find the same 

 spots entirely deserted on the following. In severe frosts, 

 and when the ground is covered with snow, they are com- 

 pelled to betake themselves to the heads of springs, that from 

 their higher temperature remain unfrozen ; in which places 

 they obtain a partial supply of food, but should the frost be 

 of long continuance, that source of provision becomes ex- 

 hausted, and the birds are so emaciated as scarcely to be able 

 to fly, and many perish from actual want. When living se- 

 parate, or stationary for a time in any particular haunt, the 

 Snipe, as the sportsman terms it, lies very close, and is sel- 

 dom flushed till very nearly approached; but, if moving 

 about in numbers together, it is more impatient of approach, 

 and the well known alarm-cry of the first that rises is certain 

 to call up all the rest upon wing in rapid succession. When 

 disturbed, it always utters its cry of alarm as it springs up- 

 on the wing, which cry may be compared to the word chis- 

 sick lispingly pronounced. At first it flies in a horizontal Flight, 

 direction near to the ground, moving in a zigzag course 

 against the wind ; but, after proceeding thus about sixty 

 or eighty yards, it springs up into the air to a great height, 

 where it continues flying till attracted by some other appro- 

 priate spot, upon which it descends almost perpendicularly 

 with the rapidity of an arrow. In addition to our native 

 Snipes, great flights come annually from Norway, and other 

 northern parts of Europe ; and in Northumberland I have 

 observed that they arrive in the greatest numbers in the be- 

 ginning of November. The geographical distribution of this 

 species, I am inclined to think, is not so extensive as has 

 been hitherto supposed, and which, by many ornithologists, 

 has been stated as occupying the greater part of the globe ; 

 but writers appear to have mistaken other species for it, bear- 



