147 



JACK SNIPE. 



JUDCOCK. 



Scolopax gallinula, ..... Li^N-sms. 



Becassine sourde, ...... Teioiinck. 



Scolopax, from Scofops — A stake sharpened at one end, from the form of its bill. Gallinula, a diminutive 



of Gallina — A hen. 



This elegant little Snipe, although generally considered to be less common than the 

 preceding species, is not only by no means rare, but is very generally distributed over 

 the whole of England, Scotland, and Ireland, in places suited to its habits. Under ordinary 

 circumstances, it is only a winter visitant to these shores, arriving from about the 

 middle of September to the middle of October, and remaining with us until the end of 

 March, or beginning of April; by this time many will have begun to assume their 

 breeding plumage, which adds greatly to the beauty and brightness of their appearance. 



The Jack Snipe breeds throughout the whole of Northern Europe, in Eussia as far 

 south as St. Eetersburgh ; and is only a winter visitor to the southern countries, but 

 extends its migration even to "Sicily and Malta." 



From its small size it is not in such esteem for the table as the Common Snipe; but 

 in flavour we consider it as being quite equal to that most excellent bird. It is 

 dressed in the same way as the Woodcock, and the other Snipes, on a toast, with the 

 trail in. 



In its habits it is more solitary than the Common Snipe, for although two or more 

 may be put up from near the same place, they do not often rise together, and rarely, 

 if ever, are found in wisps, or small flocks, except, perhaps, at the time of assembling 

 for migration. 



As bearing upon the fact of the Jack Snipe collecting in flocks, preparatory to migration, 

 Ave quote the following from Mr. Thompson's "Natural History of Ireland." He says, 

 "Major Walker, of Belmont, near Wexford, states that the Jack Snipe arrives there in 

 autumn, about a week before the Woodcock; and that in the mountain of Forth both 

 species gather in numbers before taking their departure northwards in the spring. I 



