150 SCOLOPACID^:. 



Most naturalists are in doubt respecting the manner in 

 which this singular sound is produced ; seme arguing in fa- 

 vour of its being caused by the peculiar downward quivering 

 of the wings, which, striking against the air, produce the 

 sound ; others have as plausibly maintained it to be the note 

 of the bird when sounded at a considerable elevation. 



We frequently have observed these birds perform their 

 beautiful nuptial flight, and heard their drumming sound, 

 and believe it to be produced both by the voice of the bird 

 and the action of the wings at the same time. 



Valued by the sportsman for the variety of flight presented 

 to him as each bird rises to his gun, snipe -shooting is, on 

 this account, a favourite sport. Although not equal in 

 dignity to grouse or woodcock-shooting, yet, where snipe oc- 

 cur in numbers, few sports are more exhilirating. Tyros are 

 deterred by the fancied difficulty of its flight ; a little atten- 

 tion and practice, however, to the peculiar turn or twist 

 which the snipe invariably makes when flying off, is alone re- 

 quisite to produce a good snipe-shot. 



Distributed according to the character of the locality, 

 snipe are more numerous in moist countries. In the county 

 of Cork fifty brace have been shot with a single gun, in one 

 day, an occurrence which no preserve of equal extent in Eng- 

 land or Scotland could produce. 



More subject to variety than any of the Scolopacidse, we 

 repeatedly see the snipe with patches of various colours on 

 the plumage and wings, and sometimes one of a cream-colour 

 attracts notice as a "white snipe." One in this state of 

 plumage was presented to our collection by Mr. Glennon, of 

 Dublin, having been shot in company with a common snipe 

 at the Bog of Allen, county of Kildare. 

 Habitat Northern Europe. 



SPECIES 140 THE JACK SNIPE. 



Scolopax gallinula. Linn. 



Becassine sourde. Temm. 



THIS species, the smallest in size and most beautiful in plumage 

 of all the elegantly-marked birds comprised in this family, is, 

 however, of rare occurrence. In the markets of the city its 

 proportion is about 1 to 10. It arrives with the first of our 

 winter visitants, and is one of the last to depart. Having 

 observed specimens obtained in the months of June, July, 

 and August, in the rich plumage of the nuptial season (in 

 one of which the feathers of the breast were wanting), it is 



