224 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



COMMON SNIPE. 



Scolopax coslestis. 



The Snipe is resident in the county, but the main body 

 arrive, either from abroad, or from their inland breeding- 

 places, about the first week in August. In my younger days 

 I was a very ardent sportsman, and, living at Henfield close 

 to the celebrated Common, the first piece of wheat which I 

 saw reaped made me think it worth while to walk it for a Snipe, 

 and seldom was the trouble in vain. There is something 

 peculiarly attractive to this bird there, though it is not a 

 large tract, in fact only about forty-five acres in extent. I 

 was a very diligent observer of its bird-life, and generally got 

 the best sport by working up wind when it was blowing half 

 a gale. I was often there waiting for daylight, for, as the 

 ground was unpreserved, it was a case of first come first 

 served, and I have had many a good bag there, the best being 

 twelve couple and a half, and a Teal. From constant obser- 

 vation, I gradually discovered where those rising out of shot 

 or missed went to, and after finishing the Common, started 

 in pursuit. One of the most singular places was a thick 

 plantation in a little wood called the Worm^s Copse, consisting 

 in part of spruce fir, where it was almost impossible to get 

 a shot. I have several times looked over this copse before 

 going on the Common, but in no instance did I ever find a 

 Snipe, and should never have gone there for them had I not 

 one morning seen a wisp of seven or eight, when some other 

 person was shooting on the Common, pass over, and marked 

 them down there. The Snipe breeds sparingly in Sussex, 

 but the nest has been found now and then on the aforesaid 

 Common, as well as on the heaths near Balcombe, and on 

 Ashdown Forest, Pevensey Level, and Horsham. 



