278 SCOLOPAClDiE. 



THE JACK SNIPE. 



Scolopax gattinula, Linn. 



Is common for nearly half the year in Ireland, from the 

 end of autumn until late in spring. 



Judging of the arrival of this bird in the neighbourhood of 

 Belfast from notes kept for many years, the 1st of October is about 

 the average date. The earliest were seen on the 20th of Septem- 

 ber* (1836), and the latest on the 21st of October (1838).t 



Erom the returns of a relative's shooting every year from 1835 

 to 1842 inclusive — chiefly within ten miles of Belfast — it appears 

 that he killed jack snipes each season until the last day upon 

 which he shot, ending from the 20th to the 23rd of March, at 

 which period there was no diminution or increase to their num- 

 bers from what he met with at mid-winter : on March 21st, 1836, 

 three brace were killed; on March 23rd, 1838, four brace; and 

 on March 23rd, 1836, the latter number, these being respectively 

 the last shooting days of the season. J On the 8th of April, I 

 once met with this bird near Belfast. The number of jack snipes 

 compared with that of common snipes killed by my friend will be 

 interesting both to the naturalist and sportsman. These returns 

 must not be supposed as given to show the quantity of birds that 

 can be obtained in Ireland, as the country shot over contains very 



* Earlier than this it must be remarked there was no opportunity of the sportman's 

 meeting with them ; the 20th of September being the first day of partridge-shooting 

 in Ireland, and that on which he commences his campaign in districts where there is 

 uo grouse-shooting. 



t A friend shooting at Aberarder in the north of Inverness-shire, noted the first 

 jack snipe to be seen on the 27th of September, in 1838, and about the same time in 

 the following year. In the month of September 1842, which I myself spent there, 

 the first appeared on the 26th, upon which day the bird probably arrived, as had it 

 been in the locality on the preceding day, it could hardly have escaped notice. A single 

 bird only was seen on each instance. Mr. St. John tells us he once " killed a jack 

 snipe on the 16th of September [in Morayshire] which is far earlier than these birds 

 are usually seen. * * * In no other year have I ever seen one before the 8th 

 of October; even that is very early." — 'Tour in Sutherland,' vol. i. p. 286. 



\ Of 21^ brace of snipe killed by a sportsman about Springmount, near Clough 

 (Antrim) on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of March, 1848, 14 brace were jacks, being a 

 larger proportion than he had ever before killed of them. The relative proportion 

 of the two species seen was similar to that obtained. 



