36 SCOLOPACID^E. 



very lean, but still in poor condition, the plumage ragged 

 and the skin scurfy. Close examination did not give any 

 cause for supposing it to have been a wounded bird ; 

 indeed, in that case, it would rather have got stronger than 

 weaker, as time rolled on. I was with Mr. Girdlestone 

 when we found the pair of Jack Snipes upon Bradwell 

 common, which Mr. Paget mentions, but by my note 

 the time was May, and on the 8th of May we searched 

 closely again for them, but they had departed. On the 

 first of August 1833, a Jack Snipe was shot on Barton 

 fen, in my presence, a perfectly healthy, good- conditioned, 

 well plumaged bird. The man who shot it told me that 

 once, and only once, he had shot a Jack Snipe in summer 

 upon the same fen. He lives upon the broads and marshes, 

 and would doubtless have detected any, as he is quite alive 

 to the rarity of their appearance. The eggs which have 

 once or twice been offered to me as those of the Jack 

 Snipe, were those of the Purre, and I regret that I can 

 say nothing in favour of its breeding in Norfolk. I 

 think that some worm, or particular aliment must be 

 wanting here in summer, and that short diet made Mr. 

 Girdlestone's Jack Snipe so feeble and unhealthy. The 

 one shot on the first of August might be a migratory 

 bird. 11 



Some years ago, I was told by several residents in York- 

 shire, that a Jack Snipe's nest with four eggs had been 

 taken in that county, and was in the possession of Colonel 

 Dalton. Mr. Selby says, when in Sutherlandshire " the 

 gamekeeper of the Tongue district assured us that the Jack 

 Snipe breeds there almost every year. Sir W. Jardine 

 accompanied him to a spot where he had frequently seen 

 them in summer, but he was not so fortunate as to meet 

 with any." I am not aware that the eggs of this bird have 



