WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. 150 



still more solitary; where, without fear of intrusion, 

 they may rear their young broods. Every sportsman 

 is well aware of the attachment evinced by these 

 birds for some favoured spot. Upon the same patch 

 of rushy, marshy ground, the same Jack-Snipe may 

 be found, day after day, in spite of the annoyance 

 to which it is often exposed from an indifferent 

 marksman: up rises the little bird from its rushy 

 covert, turning and winding swiftly through the 

 air, and thus escaping charge after charge of shot, 

 which only seems to add vigour to its wings; and 

 after a wide whirl or two, down it darts again, often 

 within a few yards of the seat of danger. 



The difficulty of hitting this active little bird is, 

 indeed, so proverbial, that we can readily believe a 

 story told of a gentleman, a very bad shot, who, 

 having at length succeeded in killing a Jack-Snipe, 

 deeply lamented the loss of a bird, which, as he was 

 always sure of finding it in the same place, had 

 afforded him constant amusement during a whole 

 Winter. Of this attachment to a particular spot, 

 and regular return to it, there can be no doubt; we 

 have already alluded to it in the case of other birds, 

 and Woodcocks and jSnipes seem to form no ex- 

 ceptions to the practice. One instance amongst 

 many, will be sufficient to prove the fact. A Wood- 

 cock was accidentally found by a keeper, entangled 

 in a rabbit-net, and preserved alive; a brass ring 

 was put on its left leg, and it was turned loose. 

 This occurred in February. On finding itself at 

 liberty, it rose to a very great height in the 

 air, and directed its flight towards the sea, from 

 whence it was distant about twenty miles. In 



