202 FEEDII^G GROUNDS OF SNIPE IN HARD FROST 



birds ; woodcock, also, arrive much in the same way, 

 but they do not always show on arrival, for they keep 

 to the hills for a time to rest before taking up their 

 more permanent winter quarters. 



When the frost is long and hard, and the best 

 feeding-spots are frozen over, snipe and woodcock go 

 to the sea-coasts in search of the worms which are 

 more easily obtainable. During the day they lie 

 miles away from these feeding-grounds, if there is no 

 cover near; but I have often seen them at night 

 dashing into the drains and soft spots along the high- 

 water line. I have frequently picked up snipe starved 

 to death, but very rarely a woodcock under such con- 

 ditions. I have picked the latter up dead from other 

 causes, but they are strong flyers, and seem to know 

 when a hard frost is coming, and invariably disappear 

 until it is over, when they return. 



vSnipe have a predilection for a particular spring or 

 marshy spot, and, after being flushed, they will, if not 

 hit, or very much frightened, return to it. 



Occasionally, when the heading gun, I have been 

 forced to shoot snipe and woodcock on the ground in 

 frosty weather, where the covert was very thick. At 

 times it is not possible to kill them in any other way, 

 especially in thick copses. Even if routed out with 

 spaniels, they will at such times circle low and light 

 again quite safely, and never give a chance. I have 

 also known coverts swarming with cock and 

 snipe in a frost ; the springs being so protected by 

 reason of the cover growing low over them as to 

 be seldom frozen over entirely, and so, when such 

 severe weather has been general over the country, 

 the birds have congregated to them from all parts. 



