274: OF THE BIKDS WHICH ARE 



whence, I conclude, that in some way, they pro- 

 vide them with their food. They are a shy bird, 

 and are best approached from a carriage. 



THE WOODCOCK AND SNIPE Are birds of passage. 

 The first are rarely found in numbers, except where 

 the hard frosts of the north have driven them hither 

 for subsistence. The snipes are more numerous, 

 arriving in October and remaining until May. 

 Their numbers appear to me to have decreased 

 greatly of late. I cannot ascribe this altogether to 

 the improved condition of our agriculture, as espe- 

 cially shown in the superior drainage of our 

 swamps; since morass enough remains to furnish 

 subsistence to millions ; nor can the havoc made 

 among them, by sportsmen, account . for it. It 

 occurs to me that they must be disturbed at their 

 breeding-places, or destroyed in the egg. 



OF WILD-GEESE The smaller variety is much 

 esteemed, w r hile the larger is in little request ; its 

 flesh being hard, and often fishy. 



OF WILD-DUCKS We have, in winter, a great 

 abundance ; though these, in the opinion of obser- 

 vant sportsmen, have likewise sensibly decreased. 

 One, only, is native the summer duck, or duck of 



