SNIPE. 18.9 



The nest is made on the ground, without any art, of a few dried 

 fibres and leaves, generally placed against an old stump, or great 

 root of a tree; the eggs four or five in number, rather bigger than 

 those of a Pigeon, rufous grey, marked with dusky blotches; the 

 young run as soon as hatched, but as they cannot immediately pro- 

 vide for themselves, the male and female accompany them for some 

 time. 



This species inhabits the whole of the Continent of Europe, as 

 well as Africa and Asia ; also France, Italy, Greece, and Barbary ; 

 the Gold Coast, and that of Guinea ; likewise India, China, and 

 Japan ; in general frequenting the plains in the winter, retiring in 

 summer to the summits of the highest mountains to breed. In the 

 north, common in Sweden, and Russia throughout, and Kamts- 

 chatka, as well as Iceland, It is no where more plentiful than in 

 Andalusia and Barbary, all the woods swarming with them in the 

 winter months, and probably they do not absolutely forsake them in 

 the summer; and indeed it is not unlikely, that the alpine bogs of 

 Spain and Barbary may be the nurseries of Woodcocks, &c. in an 

 equal degree with those of Norway and Sweden. Will ugh by found 

 Woodcocks on the Alps of Switzerland in June and July, and there 

 can be no doubt, but those of Andalusia and Grenada afford food 

 equally plentiful, and as extensive, and safe a retreat as those of 

 Switzerland. Tournefort met with Woodcocks in the Island of 

 Crete ; and Sonnini speaks of their coming into Egypt in November. 

 They are seen in Chinese drawings, and are without doubt in various 

 parts of India. 



Few need be told that its flesh is delicious, and much sought after, 

 and that nothing may be lost, the entrails are not drawn out, being 

 thought a necessary appendage as sauce to the bird.* We learn from 



* Intestina, etiam, cruda gulosorum deliciae sunt ; quantum est in rebus inane ! — Scop. 

 Martial ridicules the folly of the ancients in another way. 



" Rustica sim, an perdix, quid refert, si sapor idem est ?' 



" Carior est perdix, sic sapit ilia magis." Epig, 1. xiii. No. 76. 



