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PlLEaK'lAL (iUALLATdUKS — LlMlCoLJ). 



Mr. l^atty writes lis tliut, wliilc tlic Siiipt* returns to Loug Island from the north 

 in Si'iitcmbtT, it is most niimt'ious in Octoher, iind tliat it sometimes remains until 

 very late in the season. He killed seven on the I'^ith ol' Oetoliei', 1.S7L*, the gionnd 

 beinf,' frozen hard at tlie time, and having' been ,so for several days. The birds were 

 in hif,'h yrass, in an elevated pait of the meadows. He also states that a few nm.st 

 breed in (Jonneetieiit and Massaehiisetts, as he has .seen the yoiinj,' when only a few 

 days oh 1, early in June, near Sprin.i^tield and New lla\en. ^Mr. Hoanhnan also in- 

 forms us that he has found tiie Snipe near St. Steplu'ii's on the 14th of Xovember, 

 when the thermometer stood at 14" above zero. 



Mr. .J. A. Allen found liiis species exeeedin,i,dy abundant in September in the Valley 

 of (ireat Salt Lake: and Mr. Uidgway speaks ul it as a eomiaon spring and autumnal 

 bird over all tlie wet, {,'rassy jiortions of the interior, both in river valleys and in 

 mountain parks. Aecordin.y,- to Dr. Coojier, it is abundant in the middle and northern 

 parts of California during winter; but few go to the southern p;irt of the Statt', on 

 account of its greater dryness. He met with it along the ilojave and Colorado 

 rivers as late as April, and thinks that tliis bird leaves the lower country about the 

 1st of !May. lie saw it about liaki' Tahoe in September, and was informed that it 

 breeds there. 1 le also saw this species at Cama, on I'rairie Creek, on the eastern 

 border of the Columbia Plains, about the end of September ; and .Mr. It. Browne also 

 iueludes this species in his list of the birds found on Vancouver Island. 



According to Giraud, this species is known on Long Island as the Knglish Snipe. 

 It arrives on that island early in March, and after si)ending a short time in the 

 marshy groves in recruiting, it passes on to the north to breed. It returns in Se]i- 

 tember with its young, and during the autumn gets into excellent condition, and is 

 highly ])rized as game. It is usually found on low, Avct meadows and boggy grounds. 

 When Hushed it moves off in an irregular manner; but having goiie a short dis- 

 tance, it.s Hight becomes more steady. This is a somewhat difficult bird to shoot. 

 It remains in the autumn until the ground becomes frozen, when it passes on to the 

 south. In its migrations it Hies high, and at intervals it is said to utter a peculiar 

 cry, which is described as bleating. 



A writer in " Doughty 's Cabinet" (Vol. I. [>. 87) states that near Philadelphia the 

 Snipe season commences in March and continues until the middle of April. The 

 birds are poor on their first arrival, but soon become fat on the rich feeding-grounds 

 in that vicinity, in all the low lands that border the Delaware and the Schuylkill 

 rivers. To shoot Snipe dexterously is a difficult art to accpiire, ;iud demands both 

 cool judgment and some deliberation. The sudden and silent manner in which this 

 bird rises from the ground, and the zigzag character of its Hight, seem to make cal- 

 culation almost impossible ; and an inexperienced sportsman is apt to hw too soon. 

 In rising, the Snipe usually attains the height of about six feet, and then darts 

 off in this uncertain manner, uttering a peculiar cry ; after continuing in this way 

 about twenty yards, it follows a straight course, ascending until it reaches a certain 

 height, when it gradually descends, when near the earth dro})piug sudilenly into the 

 grass. 



The true way to hunt the Snipe is said to be with the Avind, as they lie closer 

 to the sportsman, and will immediately after rising head the wind, and present a 

 convenient cross-shot. It is also recommended that the shot be reserved until the 

 irregularity of the bird's Hight is over, this rarely continuing for more than twenty 

 yards. At times the Snijie is shy, and difficult to ai)proach, si)ringing up beyond the 

 reach of shot; and at other times it is so unsuspicious as not to Hy until almost 

 trodden upon. The reasons for this great difference are not satisfactorily explained. 



