WILSON'S SNIPE 135 



Snipe in the woods, along the brook-banks and 

 in the drain-holes in the fields; perhaps be- 

 cause the marshes are then swept bare of cover 

 by the ice of winter. He is commonly content 

 with the salt marshes alongshore in the fall mi- 

 grations, but at any season will go into any 

 I^lace, whether marsh or upland, which can fur- 

 nish him a square meal and a soggy, moist soil 

 for his long bill to probe and bore into. You 

 may meet him in many a seemingly unlikely 

 spot: I remember how near I was to losing a 

 fine shot at a Snipe because of too little confi- 

 dence in my dog, — a youngster, — who was ap- 

 parently pointing a flock of hens in a farmer's 

 dooryard, within twenty yards of the house and 

 a mile at least from any snipe country. The 

 puppy stood firm and refused to leave his post 

 until his slow-witted master should come and 

 do his part. I am glad to say that I did not 

 disappoint my dog that time. 



When in our New England marshes one of 

 October's perfect days follows a sharp frost — 

 and if the wind comes briskly out of the north- 

 west it is no harm — such a day means that it is 

 time to visit that stretch of mire and salt grass 

 which you know affords the best cover for Snipe 



