H. WORMALD : A SNIPE AND ITS HABITS. 255 



bill, but this is not so surprising when one realises that 

 the last inch or so of the bill is a mass of nerves. Fig. 5 

 shows him toying with a worm held in front of him. He 

 feeds at intervals throughout the whole day and night, 

 and eats a large quantity of grit and small pebbles, which 



Fig. 5, — Toying with a Worm. 

 {Photographed by P. H. Bahr.) 



can be heard grinding in his gizzard quite distinctly 

 at a distance of several feet, especially immediately 

 after feeding ; the gizzard grinds twelve times to the 

 minute. The digestion is wonderfully rapid, so much so 

 that I do not think a worm stays in the bird for more 

 than ten minutes. His hearing is very acute, and I have 

 seen him listen like a Thrush, then drive his bill into the 



