244 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



at early dawn, or even at mid-day, visit the low meadows fre- 

 quented by these birds, he will probably see one or both of a pair 

 mounting high in the air in a spiral manner, beating their wings 

 or sailing around in rapid circles, until they have gained a hundred 

 yards or more in height; then, clasping each other, they whirl 

 around, flapping their wings with great velocity, and then, drop- 

 ping in mid-air, give utterance to a low twittering or rather roll- 

 ing sound, supposed to be produced by the action of the wings 

 upon the air in their rapid descent. We have seen them perform 

 this manoeuvre more than once, but at no other period of the year 

 than the spring. 



Towards the close of April, if the weather continues warm, 

 snipes desert the oozy marshes of Delaware and New Jersey and 

 commence moving farther north, where they spread themselves 

 throughout the interior of the upland countries for the purpose of 

 breeding and rearing their young. They are most generally 

 mated when they take leave of these parts. Like other nomadic 

 birds, a few of them, owing to one peculiar circumstance or an- 

 other, remain with us in the low marshy fallows during the whole 

 summer, and even hatch and rear their young broods. It is no 

 very uncommon circumstance for our shooters to kill an occasional 

 young snipe, as well as old ones, when in pursuit of cocks in the 

 months of July and August. 



In the month of May, 1846, while wandering in company with 

 Mr. E. Lewis over his extensive estate in Maryland, we sprang a 

 Wilson's snipe from the midst of an oatfield, and, being surprised 

 as well as attracted by its singular manoeuvres, we made search for 

 its nest, which we soon found, with four eggs in it. The situation 

 selected for incubation could not have been better chosen in any 

 portion of country, as it was on a rising piece of ground, with a 

 southern exposure, and protected in the rear by a large wood, and 

 at the foot of this high ground was a considerable extent of low 

 marsh-meadow, watered by a never-failing stream, along the 

 borders of which the anxious parents at any time could obtain a 

 bountiful supply of food. 



