80 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS. 



I have four times met with Jacksnipes in September as 

 follows : 



1869 September 21st In a turnip field. 

 1875 27th 1 



1882 ,, 23rd V All on the open moor. 



1883 ,. 24th J 



On the last-named occasion, there were several of them 

 together, and evidently just arrived, for I had searched in the 

 morning the particular spot where my dog found them at 

 dusk in the evening on our way home. On first arrival, Jack- 

 snipe sometimes pitch on the barest and driest places, where 

 there is no covert but the dead and weather-bleached stalks 

 of burnt heather. The Great, or Solitary Snipe also arrives 

 in September, or rather it passes through this country at that 

 date, for none spend the winter here. I have never myself 

 met with it, and Mr. Crawhall only once in his much longer 

 experience. This one he killed at Eshott, near Felton, Nor- 

 thumberland, on the 12th September, 1872 ; it rose before a 

 dog standing to some partridge in rough grass, and curiously, 

 the same shot killed one of the latter birds, unseen on the 

 ground. The Great Snipe is a very scarce bird, far more so 

 than it is usually considered, for many old sportsmen (and not 

 a few young ones) imagine they have killed several. When put 

 to the test, these supposed Solitary Snipe nearly always prove 

 to be merely the common species, rather larger than usual. 

 Thus their supposed occurrence as often as not takes place 

 in winter, at which "season the Solitary Snipe is never found 

 in the British Islands. Mere weight is not a sufficient 

 criterion, but the species may be distinguished at a glance 

 by its underside being barred with black, these parts in the 

 common kind being plain white. Apropos of the Great 

 Snipe, an incident occurred the week I wrote this which is 

 worth recording as showing how unreliable are most reported 

 occurrences of scarce birds unless obtained. While shooting 

 on September 15th, my setter flushed a bird which, from its 

 size, slow flight, and general appearance, I felt certain could 

 be nothing else than Scolopax major ; but on following its 

 line, presently "Nell" found it again, when I picked it up 



