144 COMMON SNIPE. 



continuance. Sir H. Davy's idea that this arose from their haunting only warm springs 

 at such times, where worms are abundant, cannot be the case; at least we venture to 

 think so. We are inclined to look upon this fact, with White, of Selborne, as depending 

 upon the slight check which the insensible perspiration receives on such occasions, and 

 which, we believe, produces the effect named. 



Incubation is completed at an early period; the gentleman from whom we have quoted 

 above, states that he has shot "young Snipes, strong on the wing, as early as the last 

 week in May." Mr. Thompson mentions young Snipes being sprung as early as the 18th. 

 of April, on the Belfast mountains, in 1832. These are certainly very early dates for 

 young Snipes to be so far advanced as to be able to fly, and they will seldom be found 

 in that condition much before the middle of June, except when the spring has been 

 unusually early and mild. On such occasions it is probable there will be two broods 

 reared the same year. 



As soon as the young birds are excluded from the egg, they are able to run about, 

 and follow the mother. 



The nest of the Snipe is usually placed under some tuft of grass or sedge, upon some 

 little piece of raised ground or hillock, where it will be free from moisture; it consists 

 of a slight excavation, with a few dry blades of grass or heath as a lining. In this 

 are deposited usually four eggs, but rarely five. These are in colour of a pale greenish 

 or yellowish white, mottled at the larger end with brown of two or three shades. 

 They measure in length one inch and a half, by one inch and one line in breadth. 



The Snipe may be readily tamed, and C. Cogswell, Esq., M. D., of Warrington, gives 

 the following interesting account of one, which he kept for some time in captivity : — "On 

 Friday, the 30th. of October, 1847, while some men were out in the fields, in this 

 neighbourhood, amusing themselves with catching small birds with a fly-net, they secured 

 a full-grown Snipe, which came into my possession on the following day. The head was 

 partially denuded of feathers, in consequence of the bird having struggled against the bars 

 of a cage, through impatience at being confined. However, it made no effort to escape 

 when held in the hand, and would even stand quietly on the knee, drink water out of 

 a glass, and fish up worms from the bottom. I have now had this singular pet for more 

 than two months, and, to all appearance, it is perfectly reconciled to its novel mode of 

 life. During the late continuance of severe frost, there seemed every probability of its 

 dying of hunger, as earthworms were not to be procured ; and, like the specimen noticed 

 by Mr. Yarrell, it at first refused to take any other kind of nourishment; however 

 necessity soon prevailed, insomuch that the raw flesh of the hare and rabbit, together 

 with tripe cut into narrow strips, have been taken into favour, but the ordinary kinds 

 of butchers' meat are rejected. Earthworms remain decidedly the favourite article of diet, 

 and of these it consumes a quart in three or four days. The habits of this creature 



