CHAP, xxvni.] SNIPES-JACK-SNIPES. 223 



In September and the beginning of October I could never find a 

 single bird, though I have repeatedly tried to do so. A few 

 come in October ; but the greatest number which visit this 

 country arrive at the November full-moon ; these birds in- 

 variably taking advantage of the lightest nights for their 

 journey. In many parts of the country near the coast, the day, 

 and almost the hour, of their arrival can be accurately calculated 

 on, as also the particular thickets and coverts where the first 

 birds alight. 



The snipe also begins to breed in March, though it is not quite 

 so early a bird as the woodcock. Snipes hatch their young in 

 this country, breeding and rearing them in the swamps, or near 

 the springs on the mountains. During the pairing time the 

 snipes fly about all day, hovering and wheeling in the air above 

 the rushes where the female bird lies concealed, and uttering 

 their peculiar cry, which resembles exactly the bleating of a 

 goat, and from which they have one of their Gaelic names, which 

 signifies the air-goat. 



About the end of July and first week in August the snipes 

 descend from the higher grounds, and collect in great numbers 

 about certain favourite places. They remain in these spots for a 

 week or ten days, and then disperse. The rest of the season we 

 have but few in this part of the country. Particular ditches and 

 streams near my house always afford me two or three snipes ; and 

 as fast as I kill these, others appear. 



Occasionally flights of jack-snipes come here; generally about 

 the end or middle of October ; and last year I find, on referring 

 to my game-book, that on the 19th of October I killed eight 

 brace of jack-snipes in an hour or two. finding them all in a small 

 rushy pool and in the adjoining ditch. Usually, however, I 

 only find three or four during a day's shooting ; but in this 

 manner I kill a great many in the course of the season, as there 

 appears to be a constant succession of these birds from October 

 to March, when they leave us. The jack-snipe never remains to 

 breed here. I can scarcely call the solitary snipe a bird of this 

 country ; never having seen but one in Scotland, and that was in 

 Sutherlandshire. 



