182 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



of their flesh may be considered as second alone to that of the 

 Woodcock; we need not add, therefore, that hunting them is a 

 favorite pastime with the American Sportsman. 



VARIETIES. 



There are several game varieties of Snipe known in the Old 

 World, and all equally sought after by Sportsmen ; there are 

 also many species in our own country, but only one that attracts 

 much attention from our Shooters, In Russia, there is a large 

 Snipe that occasionally wanders as far as England, and is known 

 there, we believe, as the Horseman's Snipe, from its superior 

 size and fine appearance. This Bird affords much Sport to the 

 Russian Noblesse, as well as a savory dish for their tables. The 

 double, or solitary Snipe, Scolopax Major, although quite rare 

 in England, is very common in Sweden ; it is nearl}'- twice as 

 large as the common Snipe, and offers attractive amusement to 

 the inhabitants of that country, who pursue field sports with 

 as great zest as the Sportsmen of our own country. The 

 Scolopax Gallinago, or English Snipe of America, is closely 

 allied to the common Snipe of the Old World — it resembles it 

 in plumage, size, and habits ; a little difference, perhaps, may 

 be conceded to the latter variety in point of w^eight. The 

 observant Wilson, in his usual style of close investigation, dis- 

 covered a very marked distinction between the English and 

 American Bird, and in consideration of this discovery, Tem- 

 minck and other European naturalists have veryjustly dedicated 

 the American Snipe to this distinguished Ornithologist, by 

 bestowing upon it the title of Scolopax Wilsonii, or Wilson's 

 Snipe, a compliment not less deserved than generously awarded. 

 Wilson states that the American Snipe has the same soaring, 

 irregular flight in the air, during gloomy weather, as the Snipe 

 of Europe ; the same bleating note and occasional rapid descent ; 

 springs from the marshes with the like feeble " squeak," and in 

 every respect resembles the common Snipe of Britain, except 

 in being about one inch less, and in having sixteen feathers in 

 the tail instead of fourteen. Audubon, however, informs us 

 that the notes of the two varieties are quite dissimilar, in fact, 

 as different from each other as those of the American Crow and 



