THE JACK SNIPE 



LIMNOCRTPTES GALLINULA 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A common if somewhat 

 locally distributed winter visitor. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : The Jack Snipe is a tolerably well-known winter 

 visitor to many parts of the Metropolitan area, perhaps 

 more generally dispersed than the Common Snipe, 

 because it is far less fastidious in its choice of a haunt. 

 In the more immediate suburbs I find it of regular occur- 

 rence in the Norwood and Mitcham districts, and thence 

 in various localities round Croydon. It is a regular 

 winter visitor to the Middlesex portion of our radius 

 from Bushey, northwards through Hounslow, Osterley, 

 Southall, Wembley, Sudbury, Harrow, Pinner, Kingsbury, 

 Enfield, and Potters Bar. Waltham, Epping, and Wan- 

 stead are the chief resorts in Essex in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of London ; whilst the Kentish Grays 

 are noted haunts further south. I have flushed the 

 Jack Snipe from allotment gardens between Harlesden 

 and Willesden Green, and from marshy meadows near 

 the Fever Hospital at Neasden. Indeed, I am inclined 

 to think that this bird is not only commoner near the 

 Metropolis than is generally supposed, but visits many 

 localities where it has hitherto escaped the notice of 

 persons competent to identify it. 



A few Jack Snipes reach the London area as early as 

 September, but the majority arrive in October and 

 November. It is very remarkable not only how a very 

 small patch of wet suitable ground will content this 

 species, but how amazingly regular the same spot will be 

 tenanted year after year, even if, as, unfortunately, 1 ^ too 

 often happens, the birds are shot whilst occupying it. 

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