130 BRITISH BIRDS. 



or his dog at a great distance, and instantly con- 

 ceals itself among the variegated withered herbage, 

 so similar in appearance to its own plumage, that 

 it is almost impossible to discover it while squatted 

 motionless in its seat: it seldom, however, waits 

 the near approach of any person, particularly in 

 open weather, but commonly springs, and takes 

 flight at a distance beyond the reach of the gun. 

 When first disturbed, it utters a kind of feeble 

 whistle, and generally flies against the wind, turn- 

 ing nimbly in a zigzag direction for two or three 

 hundred paces, and sometimes soaring almost out 

 of sight; its note is then something like the bleat- 

 ing of a goat, but this is changed to a sin- 

 gular humming or drumming noise, uttered in its 

 descent. 



From its vigilance and manner of flying, it is 

 one of the most difficult birds to shoot. Some 

 sportsmen can imitate their cries, and by that 

 means draw them within reach of their shot ; others 

 prefer the more certain method of catching them in 

 the night by a springe like that which is used for 

 the Woodcock. 



The Snipe is migratory, and is met with in all 

 countries: like the Woodcock, it shuns the ex- 

 tremes of heat and cold, by keeping upon the bleak 

 moors in summer, and seeking the shelter of the 

 valleys in winter. In severe frosts and storms of 

 snow, driven by the extremity of the weather, they 

 seek the unfrozen boggy places, runners from 

 springs, or any open streamlet of water, and they 

 are sure to be found, often in considerable numbers, 

 in these places, where they sometimes sit till nearly 

 trodden upon before they will take flight. 



