ORDER grall.t:. 527 



five oblong eggs, of a whitish tint, spotted with red. If the 

 female be disturbed during incubation, she rises very high, and 

 in a right Ime, then utters a particular cry, and re-descends 

 with great rapidity. While the female is hatching, the male 

 frequently is observed to hover arjpund her, uttering a kind of 

 hissing noise. The young quit the nest on issuing from the 

 shell, and then appear very ugly and deformed. Until their 

 bill grows firm, the mother continues her care of them, 

 and does not leave them until they can do without her. 



The snipe usually grows very fat, both in Europe and 

 North America ; but much less so in warm climates. Its 

 flesh, after the early frosts, acquires a fine and delicate 

 flavour. It is cooked, as well as the woodcock, without 

 being drawn, and is in universal estimation as an exquisite 

 game. It is caught in various ways, and is well known to 

 be a difficult shot, when turning and winding in the air ; 

 though by no means so when suff'ered to proceed in a right 

 line, especially as the smallest grain of lead is sufficient to 

 bring it down, and the slightest touch will make it fall. 



The Double Snipe (Scot. Major) was considered by 

 Buffbn as a mere variety of the common, as that naturalist 

 probably took into consideration only its superior size, and 

 the trifling difference of the plumage. It has, however, 

 since his time, been ascertained to be a different species. It 

 differs from the common snipe in its cry, in its flight, which 

 is generally direct, and with few or no circlings, and in its 

 habits, preferring to marshy and muddy grounds, those 

 places where there is but little water, and Avhere it is clear. 

 There is little else worth remarking concerning it. 



The Little Snipe is not larger than a lark. It is less 

 generally extended than the common species. In France, it 

 remains in the marshes almost during the whole year, 

 wliere it nestles and lays eggs, like those of the common 



