THE FIELD.—SNIPE-SIOOTING. 945 
commonly, though not correctly, known as the English 
snipe; this species being distinctly, though only slightly 
various from the European fowl of which it bears the 
name. The distinction was first recorded by Wilson, and 
consists in a permanent difference of number in the tail 
feathers, and of some discrepancies in cry and habits. 
Still the similarity is so great that I was at first inclined 
to believe the two varieties identical, until longer acquaint- 
ance with the habits of the American bird has assured 
me of its decided difference from its transatlantic con- 
gener. 
This little wader is so generally known to all persons, 
in all parts of the country, and every where by the same 
name, that it needs no description; nor do I profess in 
this work to enter into details of natural history, which 
will be more fitly sought in works especially devoted to 
that subject, or to some more extended sporting books ; as 
my own, Dr. Lewis’s, and the American edition of Col. 
Hawker’s instructive volumes. 
Here I limit myself to explaining briefly to the young 
sportsman how to hunt for, find, and kill the game in ques- 
tion in fair and sportsmanlike style. 
In no two States of the Union does the snipe come 
into season exactly at the same time, as he is every where 
a migratory bird, shifting his quarters as the facility of 
obtaining food, which he can only procure in unfrozen 
marshy grounds, and the necessity of rearing his young, 
which he can only do in certain northern temperatures 
and latitudes, and in wild marshy solitudes, induce or 
compel him to do. 
