78 B1ED LIFE IN ENGLAND. 



but not least, a consideration closely allied to the first one 

 mentioned, greatly increased facilities of locomotion and con- 

 sequent close search of spots to-day that formerly were 

 natural sanctuaries unbroken by human intrusion. The 

 general tendency of such altered circumstances would be to 

 give England a bad savour at the woodcock head-quarters, to 

 diminish migration, and would of course lead to the thinning 

 of the ranks of such as ventured here and the practical 

 extermination of those that might wish to remain and breed. 



The woodcock, however, is a very persevering bird. With 

 anything like fair play and quiet he will always find out 

 favourite haunts and fill them. The Wild Birds Protection 

 Act should have done as much for him as for any bird. 



But with the mention of marsh or fen the bird that rises 

 before us is the common and cheerful little snipe, which we 

 have seen inhabits the globe from far north to far south. I 

 doubt if, after allowing for the inevitable halo of romance 

 which always tinges antique shooting stories, it could well 

 be proved that our forefathers made much larger bags of 

 snipe fifty years ago on localities which have remained un- 

 changed than they could do in a favourable season of this or 

 any neighbouring year. 



" Capricious in their movements as snipe are, and influenced 

 by every change in the weather, they are still fond of certain 

 spots ; and if they are to be met with in the country at all, 

 you will be sure to find them in some of these. Snipe have 

 wonderful 'lasting,' as an old gamekeeper used to say to 

 me. ' Lord bless you, sir, I don't know how they stands ; 

 there's as many now ' (this was just the end of the season) 

 ' as if there was ne'er a one taken out of them the whole 

 year and sure we're shooting them every day since October 

 came in.' It is a fact ; shoot them as you will, there will 

 be always some after you ; and, though it is the fashion now 

 to complain of the scarcity of snipe, I attribute that entirely 

 to the great increase of drainage, as in localities which are 

 favourable to them, snipe are as plentiful to-day as they were 



