34^ WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



banks produced Independently of a quantity of 

 detached birds, several zvtsps sprang wildly, as they 

 always do ; and 1 have no doubt that this fen had been 

 their temporary resting-place after their autumnal 

 migration from the north. We were the more inclined 

 to this opinion from finding many of the birds we killed 

 extremely lean ; while others, that sprang singly y were 

 in admirable condition. Achil is a natural resting- 

 place for migratory birds ; and hence 1 can well believe 

 the accounts given by the islanders, of the immense 

 numbers of woodcocks and snipes which are here found, 

 in their transit from a high latitude to our more genial 

 climate. The same remark is made touching the vernal 

 visit of these strangers to this island. After woodcocks 

 have for days vanished from the inland covers, they have 

 been found in flocks on the Achil and Erris highlands, 

 evidently congregating for their passage, and preparing 

 for the attempt. 



It may be easily conceived, that whether the winter 

 stock of snipes and woodcocks be limited or abundant, 

 will mainly depend upon the state of the winds and 

 weather at the period of migration. Hence, when the 

 latter end of October and the succeeding month have 

 continued stormy, with south, or south-easterly gales, 

 a lamentable deficiency of game has been invariably 

 observed. That multitudes perish on their passage, 

 or are obliged to change their course, is certain — and 

 the exhausted state in which the small portion of the 

 survivors reach these shores, attests how difficult the 

 task must be to effect a landing, when opposed by con- 

 trary winds and stormy weather. 



The common residence of the snipe is in small bogs, 

 or wet grounds, where it is almost constantly digging 



