sabine's snipe. 273 



When shooting in Scotland, — in the comities of Ayr, Wigton, 

 Dumfries, Perth, and Inverness, and in the island of Islay, — I 

 have been surprised at the scarcity of snipes everywhere, as all 

 persons accustomed to meet with them abundantly in Ireland 

 must be. In beating a marsh which in the latter island would 

 produce a score, often none at all, or only a solitary bird, would be 

 sprung. This cannot, I presume, arise from such localities being 

 less adapted to the species, but to the comparative infrequency of 

 them over an extensive range of country. In some of the islands, 

 according to Mr. Lloyd, snipes are occasionally plentiful, and 

 in many parts of England snipe-shooting is still obtainable.* f 



SABINE'S SNIPE. 



Scolopax Sabini, Vigors. 



Has several times been obtained ; more frequently than 

 in any other country. 



This singular bird was discovered in Ireland; the original one, 

 described by Mr. Vigors, having been shot in QueenVcounty on 

 the 21st of August, 1822. Captain Bonham, of the 10th Hussars, 

 at the request of a mutual friend, favoured me with the following 

 particulars of the second native specimen, and at the same time 

 had the bird most kindly sent from Brighton to London for my 

 inspection. He observed : — " flBiot it at the end of November 

 or beginning of December, 1827, about a mile from Garvagh, 

 county of Londonderry, on the side of a high heathery hill rising 

 from a large flow, or uncut turf-bog : common snipes were rising 

 at the same place. The bird was tame, and did not squeak like 



* Sporting Review, October 1847, p. 256. 



f January 1849. Mr. P. Mackenzie, gamekeeper at Ardimersy, Islay, informs 

 me that when acting in a similar capacity to Lord Londonderry some years ago, at 

 Wynyard Park, Durham, he has, when partridge-shooting in the months of October, 

 November, and December, and not looking particularly for snipes, often lolled from 

 thirteen to fifteen, and once twenty brace, in the country within seven miles of 

 Stockton-on-Tees. 



VOL. II. T 



