172 scolopaciujE. 



penetrate nearly so far northward. It may also be added 

 that it remains but a very short period at its northern- 

 most limit ; and whilst the snipe passes through Canada 

 to its breeding grounds, the other rests and breeds there, 

 merely visiting a little further north for a few weeks 

 in the early autumn in search of new feeding grounds. 



In these migrations they generally make very short 

 nocturnal flights from covert to covert, resting during the 

 day, and feeding at dusk in anticipation of the renewal of 

 the journey. In the spring their flights are generally 

 longer and more rapid, and at that season they are also 

 observed to travel in pairs ; but at all times when on the 

 move they are to be found in almost any swampy ground 

 in the vicinity of covert, in second-growth woods, or in 

 low lying thickets in the neighbourhood of open ground ; 

 though never in the forest. Patches of alder, a tree that 

 flourishes in marshy ground, are favourite resorts, and 

 all low rich black soils, which doubtless abound more 

 plentifully in food. 



During the heat and glare of the day the birds lie 

 close in the woods and thickets, only venturing forth to 

 feed in the dusk of evening. At this hour they may con- 

 stantly be seen on the wing in proximity to open swamps 

 or along the margins of rivers ; and excepting in bad 

 weather, when their movements are very uncertain, they 

 continue to feed all through the night, only betaking 



