SNIPES. 319 



the breast white. It is persecuted by some of the small birds of prey, 

 such as the Merlin, the Hobby, and the Kestrel. But, among all its 

 enemies, man is most to be dreaded, for he looks upon it as nearly 

 equal to the Woodcock, and for this reason pursues it with the greatest 

 perseverance. But the sportsman pays dearly for his pleasure, as he 

 frequently contracts rheumatism at an age when most persons are 

 still vigorous, independent of the falls sure to be encountered on the 

 perfidious surface of the bogs and marshes which might perchance 



Fig. 123. — 1. Jack Snipe. 2. Common Snipe. 



even bury him in their muddy depths. Besides the drawback ot 

 rheumatism, and the contretemps attending snipe-shooting, it is accom- 

 panied by another difficulty. Immediately on the bird flushing it 

 makes two or three sudden twists, which often baffle even the best 

 shots : proficiency can only be attained by long experience, aided by 

 rapidity and steadiness of hand and eye. 



The Great Snipe is about a third larger than that of which we have 

 just been speaking. 



The Jack or Deaf Snipe is thus named because it fails to notice 

 the approach of the sportsman, and gets up literally under his feet. 

 This is the smallest of the European species. 



