NOTES AND QUERIES. 139 



predatory bird that might be passing, and yet it fully answered the purpose. 

 The tiny little bill was pointed downwards, and moved slowly but regularly 

 from side to side, thus displacing any sand that drifted right up against 

 the little creature ; all passed harmlessly away on one side or the other. 

 Instead of the smothering pile of sand that might have been expected, there 

 was really a slight depression. Of course, had the little thing turned its 

 back to the wind, and thus kept its head clear, it would not have been able 

 to have used its leg to such purpose as it did. — Chas. J. Holdsworth 

 (Hill Top, near Kendal). 



Jack Snipe in Norfolk in Summer. — A Jack Snipe was picked up 

 dead, beneath the telegraph-wires, in the parish of Sutton, Norfolk, on 

 May 30th, 1889. It was apparently in full feather, and externally in good 

 condition. This is not the first or only occurrence of the Jack Snipe in 

 the Broad district, during the summer months, which has come under my 

 notice ; although probably compulsion, and not choice, has been the cause 

 of their non-migration at the usual period, — an imperfectly healed shot- 

 wound, or loss of feathers, then rendering them unfit for so long a journey 

 or retarding their northerly flight until the natural inclination to do so had 

 departed. I regret now that I did not pluck and dissect the Jack Snipe 

 that I have met with in Norfolk at the abnormal dates of April, June 

 and July. I see, on reference to my note-book, that Sept. 26th is the 

 average date of the first Jack Snipe being shot in the ordinary course of 

 events, during the past ten seasons. In a local publication, entitled 

 1 Unnatural Natural History Notes,' by Col. H. M. Leathes, at p. 64, is this 

 passage : — " Early in the month of August, 1869, my gamekeeper came 

 up to the Hall one fine morning and announced the following fact, viz., 

 that during the summer some Jack Snipe had bred in one of our marshes 

 at Herringfleet. As I was aware that this was an unheard-of occurrence, I 

 closely questioned the man on the subject. He assured me that often 

 during that season he had put the ' Jack ' off their nests ; that they had 

 without doubt bred there, and that their young were now strong and 

 healthy on the wing. He finished up by adding, * If you do not believe 

 me, sir, bring your gun and come and see for yourself.' A few minutes 

 later saw me equipped and ready for the fray. The marsh we entered was 

 always a favourite one for Snipe; in fact, more a *rand g ' than a marsh, 

 and about two acres in extent, surrounded, however, by miles of Snipe 

 ground. In less than a quarter of an hour I had fifteen Jack Snipe in my 

 bag. I killed them nearly all with my first barrel ; those I did not, simply 

 flew a few yards, settled down again, and never left this small marsh. One 

 little chap I had to shoot at no less than five times befere I secured him. 

 What I would have given for an egg nobody can tell. I believe I should 

 have been the only owner of a veritable Jack Snipe's egg fairly laid in 

 England. Talking afterwards to the Rev. Mr. Talman, a Fellow of King's 



M 2 



