CH. VI.] SNIPES—SQUIRRELS. 221 
I believe I have never heard of Snipes breeding 
in the Island, but I shot one, I am ashamed to say, 
some years ago, on the 24th of April, when he 
ought to have been thinking about a nest. I 
could, however, find no trace of one where he 
rose. They have never been very abundant with 
us, and, having been of late years gradually “ dried 
out” by (as a sportsman would say) the fatal in- 
roads of drainage, from many places which formerly 
held them, there are now comparatively few to be 
met with, and those generally only within circum- 
scribed limits, and under favourable circumstances. 
Squirrels, which are now tolerably abundant in 
the quiet woodlands of the Isle of Wight, were, it 
is believed, first introduced there by the late Sir 
John Barrington, about fifty or sixty years ago. 
The act caused great excitement at the time, it 
being reported that Sir John “had been and 
brought in foxes,” then proscribed animals. Foxes 
however were actually introduced about fifteen 
years ago, and a well ordered pack of hounds, 
affording excellent sport, is the consequence. 
I am afraid Squirrels are mischievous little 
fellows, and as bad gamekeepers as they are gar- 
deners, having, I fancy, a partiality for eggs as 
well as fruit. However, I would willingly remain 
