GRALL^E. SCOLOPACID^E. 



The young, when hatched, grow very fast, and 

 soon become very large, being often, before they 

 are able to fly, larger than the parents. 



Sir Humphrey Davy, who observed many nests 

 of these birds in the month of August, in the 

 Orkneys, remarked that the old birds were much 

 attached to their offspring; and if any one ap- 

 proached they would make a loud and drumming 

 noise above his head, as if to divert his attention 

 from their nest. 



Though the Snipe, as we have thus seen, is to 

 a certain extent, a permanent resident in these 

 islands, it is partially migratory also. The num- 

 bers of those bred here, are not sufficient to 

 account for the flocks that sometimes appear in 

 August, in which month as many Snipes may 

 often be killed as at any time in the year. Mr. 

 Selby states that great flights come every season 

 from Norway and other northern parts of Europe ; 

 arriving in Northumberland in the greatest num- 

 bers early in November. They seldom remain 

 long in one situation, moving from place to place, 

 under the influence of various causes, so that the 

 sportsman who has enjoyed excellent Snipe- 

 shooting one day, may find the same spots en- 

 tirely deserted on the following. 



The food of the Snipe consists of worms, the 

 larvae of insects, small mollusca and Crustacea, 

 with which are often taken into the stomach 

 minute seeds, perhaps adhering to their animal 

 food. One kept by Mr. Blyth in confinement 

 would eat only earth-worms.* 



* YarrelPs Brit. Birds, iii. 30. 



