304 
THE BIRDS OF HAMPSHIRE. 
stations of this bird. Though, doubtless, driven from many 
former haunts by drainage, it seems to have more than 
made up its numbers elsewhere, not only in such historic 
spots as Wolmer and the New Forest, but in the marshes 
and meadows of our larger river valleys, and on boggy 
moorlands and commons in other parts of the county. 
Bransbury Common, for instance, which was noted for its 
snipe in Hawker's day,i is still inhabited by a large colony 
all the year round, and there are other favoured spots in 
the neighbourhood of Odiham and Silchester. 
Gilpin says of the snipe 2; — "She is a frequent inhabitant 
of the wildest scenes. Any swamp or marshy spot will 
please her, and of these she finds abundance in various 
parts of the Forest." 
This bird is not now known to nest in the Isle of Wight, 
though Bury records that it bred in Yarmouth marshes in 
the " forties." More, writing twenty years later, reckoned it 
as a winter visitor only. 
The dark variety of this species, known as " Sabine's 
Snipe," has often occurred in the county. 
The following are examples : — 
One at Heron Court in 1836. (Wise, " New Forest") 
One at Picket Post, in the New Forest, January, 1859. 
(Wise.) 
One shot by the Earl of Selborne at Wolmer Pond, 
July 31st, 1880. ("Zoologist." 1881.) 
One at Christchurch, January 12th, 1881. (Hart's col- 
lection.) 
One shot at Bishop's Waltham, October 29th, 1889. 
(Green, " Field.") 
One at Leckford, January, 1894. (W. H. Turle.) 
^ "Diary." November 3rd, 1810. 
^ " Forest Scenery." 1834. 
