126 SNIPE. 



Neither of the pin- tail snipe are so active or fly so fast as the com- 

 mon snipe, but they are usually much finer and fatter birds. 



Two other snipe occur, though rarely in North China. These 

 are the jack snipe {Gallinago gallinula) and the solitary snipe {Gallinago 

 soUtaria). Of these the latter may be met with in the mountainous 

 areas, in some places throughout the year. It is much the largest of 

 all the snipe, being sometimes mistalien for the woodcocli. It most 

 nearly resembles Swinboe's snipe, but is darker and browner above, 

 besides being larger. 



With regard to the best snipe grounds, Tientsin sportsmen doubt- 

 less know far more than tlie writer does about local conditions, but 

 they may be interested in hearing of other good grounds further in- 

 land. There are some good snipe districts accessible from the Pekin- 

 Kalgan line, notably round Hsiian-hau Fu. In the extensive valleys 

 formed by the large affluents of the Yellow River, and other 

 rivers flowing eastward in Sliansi, there are many excellent 

 marshes or rice-growing areas, where good bags of snipe may be made; 

 while along tlie road from Tungkuan to Si-an Fu in Shensi stretch 

 mile upon mile of the best snipe country imaginable. Frequently 

 when travelling in Kansu, one may come across small marshes, where 

 snipe arc plentiful in the right season. 



Still I think, on the whole, that the residents of Tientsin have 

 within easy reach of them as good snipe grounds as anywhere. Large 

 bags have been made in the ]iast, and doubtless will continue to be 

 made, for snipe are not appreciably effected by the heavy inroads which 

 are made into tlieir numbers by sportsmen and hunters. So vast are 

 their numbers, that but a mere skimming is taken as they pass to and 

 from their breeding grounds. 



It would be interesting to know a few of the record bags made 

 round Tientsin. No very large bags are made in the British Isles, 

 but bags of over one hundred couple have been made in India and Cey- 

 lon. It is said that 223 birds is tlie record bag for India. I believe this 

 has frequently been beaten in China, but it is not likely that any 

 bags made out liere can compare with those made in Louisiana, where 

 1,943 birds were shot by Mr. J. J. Prhigle in seven days, his record 

 for one day being 36G. 



There is a story told of a famous New York snipe shooter, who took 

 on a wager that he would shoot a hundred snipe with a hundred cart- 

 ridges. He started out and shot very carefully. With each shot he 

 brought down his bird till the figure of ninety eight was reached, when, 

 through a defective cartridge, he lost one bird. He was not beaten, 



