GREAT SNIPE. 11 



were young birds, scarcely full-fledged. Th : s was on Fishburn 

 Carr, between Castle Eden and Darlington. 



In Devonshire, one was shot on Shaugh Moor, September 

 7th., 1850. In Cornwall, it occurred at Gvvyllyn Vase, near 

 Falmouth, in December, 1848. In Kent, near Dover, one. 

 In Derbyshire, a few have been observed near Melbourne, in 

 the autumn, at different times. In Sussex, one was shot 

 near Lewes, in October, 1849. 



Mr. Chaffey has seen it at Dodington, in Kent, in 

 September, 1851. The liev. Charles Alington procured one 

 in the parish of Marsh Chapel, Lincolnshire, in the year 

 1850; and A. Fuller, Esq. mentions one shot at Tetney, near 

 Grrimsby, in September, 1852. In Oxfordshire, one or two 

 have been found at Botley one the end of September, 1851. 

 N. Howe, Esq., of Worcester College, Oxford, has written 

 me word of one which was killed in the winter of 1851, in 

 a sand-pit on the road to Botley from Oxford. It has 

 occurred also in Surrey, near Godalming. 



In Ireland it has been met with. 



In Orkney, this bird appeared several times in Sanday, in 

 September, 1851. 



They occur with us in the autumn on their way southwards, 

 young birds principally, but also old ones which seem to 

 continue to mate together. 



The Solitary Snipe is always found singly, when not in 

 pairs, and never in flocks. It lies close, and rarely flies far 

 if put up. It frequents the edges of swamps, and the borders 

 of any small water-courses in meadows or other places. It 

 is a most excellent bird to eat. When engaged with their 

 young both birds are very heedless of danger, and if alarmed 

 from the nest settle again close by on some little eminence. 



They fly in a heavy manner, and not very swiftly, with the 

 tail spread, and usually settle again after proceeding but a 

 short distance straight forwards and at a low elevation. During 

 the pairing season the males soar to a great height, and make 

 a drumming noise in descending, the effect of a vibration of 

 the wings. When standing on the ground they generally keep 

 the bill pointed towards the earth, -and with the neck shortened. 

 They walk in an easy manner, but do not run fast. 



They feed on the caddis, or larvae, of flies, as alsoaon worms 

 and insects, swallowing therewith a little sand. The cases of 

 the former, and any other hard portions of their food, are 

 reported to be cast up in pellets. They seek their food in 



