THE SNIPE. 151 



four ounces, the jack snipe is not much bigger than 

 a lark; the large snipe weighs about nine ounces, but 

 is seldom met with. Some have supposed that the 

 c6mmon snipe is the jack's female ; however, the 

 contrary is now too well known to need a refutation 

 in this place. 



Snipes are to be found all the winter in wet and 

 marshy grounds, particularly where there are rushes ; 

 they are frequently to be found on mountains and 

 moors among the heath, but a severe frost forces 

 them to the springs and running streams. Numbers 

 of these birds remain with us all the year, and breed 

 in our marshes, laying generally six eggs the latter 

 end of May. In saying this, I wish to be understood 

 as meaning the common snipe ; for I am of opinion 

 the jack snipe, like the woodcock, goes to a more 

 northern latitude to breed, though he is sometimes 

 seen here in the summer, which may arise from simi- 

 lar causes to those which induce the occasional stay 

 of the woodcock, mentioned in the preceding chap- 

 ter. But numbers of the common snipe are found 

 to stay and breed from choice, though by far the 

 greater part migrate for this purpose. 



The snipe is generally regarded as a difficult shot ; 

 and it must be allowed that it requires practice to 

 surmount this difficulty, which arises from the zig- 

 zag manner in which the bird flies immediately af- 

 ter rising. The best method to pursue in this diver- 

 sion is to walk down the wind, as snipes generally fly 

 against it ; and if a snipe rise before a sportsman, it 



