119-2 The Zoologist— May, 1868. 



Snipe.— January 8. Till to-day I never had the pleasure of seeing 

 a snipe crossing the sea. One passed over my head, flying from east 

 to west, of course migrating: its flight did not differ from the erratic 

 course generally pursued, though conducted more in the one direction : 

 it was about two hundred yards high. The frost-bound state of the 

 country has filled the drains and springs with these birds, some in very 

 good, others in very indifferent, condition : 1 killed to-day, with a 

 muzzle-loading gun, thirty-five brace, five and a half couple of cocks, 

 three mallards and five teal, in suitable localities for frosty weather. 

 Were it not that I wanted the cocks and ducks I have no doubt I 

 could have procured half as many more, and with a breech-loading 

 gun in all probability double the number: I missed one snipe. Being 

 passionally fond of snipe-shooting, and knowing that two or three 

 others were following me and would have got what I left, is the only 

 excuse I can offer for the unnaturalist-like destruction. Where all 

 these snipe came from I cannot say, this county only being a 

 tolerable one for them. I was informed they were in great numbers in 

 such localities throughout Ireland. In parts of May a good shot can 

 bag from thirty to sixty brace a day, at times even in open weather. 



Woodcock. — Large flights have visited this county ; they are very 

 abundant and to be found in unheard-of places. In the direction of 

 Swords the country people killed them with sticks as they alighted 

 exhausted. Any I shot were fine active birds; fat and muscular. 

 There is an idea prevalent in Ireland that the woodcock can pick up 

 condition in twenty-four hours. Be this as it may, I know a day or 

 two makes a vast difference in their condition. 



Sparrow. — The best off of the feathered race in snowy weather, 

 feeding in yards and on the charitable crumbs outside houses. During 

 this weather they show a decided partiality for warm chimneys to roost 

 in. The smoke seemingly only has the effect of blackening their 

 plumage. The dirty little scoundrels come out, thus begrimed, in fine 

 relief against the while snow. 



Blackbird. — January 4. Seem strong on the wing, cheery of note, 

 and not tamer than usual. They never feed in the fields with the 

 thrush or redwing, but seem to prefer the sunny bottoms of hedges 

 and ditches. There are a great number of haws not yet consumed, 

 so they will not suffer yet awhile. Some watched feeding on these 

 berries seemed very dainty in those they took. Haws are always most 

 abundant before a hard winter, and seem to stick designedly^to the 

 trees. 



