WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. 



339 



for they, except at the breeding-season, seem to shun not 

 only other birds, but even their own species. It may be 

 said that this is incorrect, because often in the same woods, 

 or favourite marshy haunts, they may be occasionally put up 

 in considerable numbers; but in these cases it should be 

 remembered, that if many are found, the number depends not 

 upon any social feeling, but the attraction of their common 

 food ; a large proportion of their lives being passed alone in 

 the solitude of a marsh, or the shaded retirement of a wood. 

 If undisturbed, and in some cases even although disturbed, 

 there will the Woodcock or the Snipe remain, till called away 

 by that instinctive faculty which compels them to visit regions 

 far distant, and still more solitary; where, without fear of 

 intrusion, they may rear their young broods. Every sports- 

 man is well aware of the attachment evinced by these birds 

 for some favoured spot. Upon the same patch of rushy, 

 marshy ground, the same Jack- Snipe may be found, day after 

 day, in spite of the 

 annoyance to which 

 it is often exposed 

 from an indiiferent 

 marksman : up rises 

 the little bird from 

 its rushy covert, 

 turning and winding 

 swiftly through the 

 air, and thus es- 

 caping charge after 

 charge of shot, which 

 only seems to add 

 vigour to its wings; 

 and after a wide 

 whirl or two, down 

 it starts again, often within a 

 danger. 



The difficulty of hitting this active little bird is indeed 

 so proverbial, that we can readily believe a story told of a 

 gentleman, a very bad shot, who having at length suc- 



z 2 



Snipe. 

 few yards of the seat of 



