JACK SNIPE. 
305 
Genu S — L imnocryptes. 
231. Limnocryptes gallinula. Jack Snipe. 
A winter visitor to all parts, arriving at the end of 
September or during October. 
This bird is not abundant, but is usually found singly, 
or in parties of two or three, where there is some special 
attraction. 
It was known to Gilbert White, who mentions it in his 
Journal, and includes it in the list of winter birds of 
passage contained in the first letter to Barrington. 
Hawker discusses in his "Diary" (September 5th, 
1802) the uncertainty attaching to the pursuit of these 
birds. " The first thirteen shots," he says, " that I had 
at these birds this year I killed without missing one ; have 
since fired eight shots at one jack and missed them all." 
Wise mentions a bird which lay so close that it allowed 
itself to be caught in a hat. ^ 
This species occasionally remains so late in the spring — 
Munn has seen it, for instance, on Bransbury Common, as 
late as May 5th, 1894 — that it has been supposed to stay 
to breed ; but there is no authentic record of its eggs 
having been found in the county and properly identified. 
A nest taken on Bransbury Common, on April 27th, 1886, 
with four eggs, was supposed to belong to this species. 
^ "New Forest." 
