SCOLOPACID^J. 385 



The food of the Summer Snipe consists of worms 

 and aquatic insects. Meyer says the insects are 

 chiefly flies, gnats and water spiders, but rarely 

 snails, if ever so small : perhaps the similarity of 

 food may occasion the animosity of the Pied Wag- 

 tails, as I have seen them occasionally bully a 

 Swallow in the same way, but not so determinedly. 



Much has been written in different publications 

 on the power of swimming of the Sandpipers. That 

 all the birds included in the order Grallatores can 

 swim, and swim well if compelled to do so, I have 

 no doubt: the Green Sandpiper and the present 

 species I have seen both swim and dive, but only 

 when wounded ; the Curlew when pushed into the 

 water by its companions; a wounded Whimbrel I 

 have seen swim a long way ; the Purre also I have 

 occasionally seen swim when wounded, and also if 

 caught by the waves when it has incautiously 

 approached too near them in its search for food, but 

 the greatest use it has then made of its swimming 

 has been to get back to land as quickly as possible ; 

 but with a few exceptions, such as the Moorhen and 

 the Phalaropes, and perhaps the tame Heron before 

 mentioned, I have never been able satisfactorily to 

 ascertain that any of the birds belonging to this 

 order voluntarily take to the water for the purpose 

 either of obtaining food or of amusement, 



In plumage and general appearance the Summer 

 Snipe is a very pretty neat-looking bird. The beak 



