SNIPE, GRALLATORES. SCOLOPAX. 123 
and mud with their bills. They seldom remain long in one 
situation, moving from place to place, under the regulation, 
as it would appear, of the state of the weather, and the pre- 
valence of particular winds; so that the sportsman who has 
enjoyed excellent snipe-shooting one day, may find the same 
spots entirely deserted on the following. In severe frosts, 
and when the ground is covered with snow, they are com- 
pelled to betake themselves to the heads of springs, that from 
their higher temperature remain unfrozen; in which places 
they obtain a partial supply of food, but should the frost be 
of long continuance, that source of provision becomes ex- 
hausted, and the birds are so emaciated as scarcely to be able 
to fly, and many perish from actual want. When living se- 
parate, or stationary for a time in any particular haunt, the 
Snipe, as the sportsman terms it, lies very close, and is sel- 
dom flushed till very nearly approached; but, if moving 
about in numbers together, it is more impatient of approach, 
and the well known alarm-ery of the first that rises is certain 
to call up all’ the rest ‘upon wing in rapid succession. When 
disturbed, it always utters its cry of alarm as it springs up- 
on the wing, whith ery may be compared to the word chis- 
sick lispingly pronounced. At first it flies in a horizontal 
direction near to the ground, moving in a zigzag course 
against the wind ; but, after proceeding thus about sixty 
or eighty yards, it springs up into the air to a great height, 
where it continues flying till attracted by some other appro- 
priate spot, upon which it descends almost perpendicularly 
with the rapidity of an arrow. In addition to our native 
Snipes, great flights come annually from Norway, and other 
northern parts of Europe; and in Northumberland I have 
observed that they arrive in the greatest numbers in the be- 
ginning of November. The geographical distribution of this 
species, I am inclined to think, is not so extensive as has 
been hitherto supposed, and which, by many ornithologists, 
has been stated as occupying the greater part of the globe ; 
but writers appear to have mistaken other species for it, bear- 
Flight.. 
