230 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



been prevented following the migration of his or her 

 companions. What a beautiful lesson all may learn 

 from this ! how it should speak home to the human 

 heart, this attachment of the mate, who, sooner than 

 desert a companion, forsakes for the time being his 

 whole race, save one, and foregoes even following the 

 journey almost necessary to life ! 



In Southern Illinois, where I had the greatest 

 amount of experience in killing this game, the advance 

 heralds of migration generally arrived about the 10th 

 of March. Much, of course, depended upon whether the 

 winter was late or otherwise ; but if a thaw had taken 

 place, and a moist southerly wind had been blowing 

 over night, the ground that yesterday yon had tramped 

 over in pursuit of wild duck without seeing a single 

 snipe, on the morrow would harbour thousands. Their 

 journey being a continuation of short flights, they are 

 seldom out of condition on arrival ; and as they do not 

 take up a permanent residence, little compunction is 

 felt in shooting them. Out of the large number that I 

 have brought to bag, I do not remember a single in- 

 stance of an egg, or other indication that pairing had 

 taken place. The prairies of this state (Illinois) are 

 generally burned late in the fall, or early in spring, to 

 improve the succeeding year's grazing, leaving the sur- 

 face of the soil entirely denuded of grass, except where 

 moisture has prevented the burning taking effect. Over 

 this, especially in the vicinity of sloughs, dwarf pris- 

 simon bushes abound, and there the snipe much 

 frequent. A dog is not necessary here, for the game is 

 so abundant, unless, perhaps, a good retriever, who 

 must be under such control as never to attempt to 

 leave heel, except when ordered by his master to re- 



