34. THE SNIPE. 



HPHE snipe makes its home in damp, marshy 

 places. It belongs to the family of wading 

 birds. 



Many of the members of this family have long 

 legs, but the snipe's legs are short. With its 

 long, straight, slender bill, it feels about in the 

 mud for worms. 



Its eyes are large, and placed far back to guard 

 it against danger when it is feeling for food in 

 the mud. 



Each foot has three toes in front, and one 

 behind. The tail is short, with either fourteen 

 or sixteen feathers. 



The nest is made of dry grasses, in a 

 small hole in the ground, or in a tuft of 

 grass or rushes. The eggs are greenish 

 yellow speckled with brown. 



The flesh of the snipe is highly prized for 

 food, but the young hunter finds it a hard bird 

 to shoot, for when frightened, it will fly in a 

 zigzag course through the air. 



