SNl PE. 
3 
Scotland I again met with excellent chances of making further observations on the present and numerous 
other species of T\ aders and Sea-fowl. A few jiairs of Snipe nested on Gullane Links, resorting to the low 
green cover growing thickly on the marshy portion of the ground. Numbers were occasionally flushed 
about the open burns and pools among the sand-banks, the small stream of water that escaped from the 
curling-pond and trickled slowly down towards tlie Firth proving an especial attraction in severe weather: 
on this part of the links an excellent chance of a heavy bag vv'as lost owing to a deficiency of ammunition, 
the Snipes, as usual, having been fallen in with when least expected. As the birds exhibited an 
unaccustomed disregard of danger, thougli by no means pressed by long-continued frost, a short account 
extracted from my notes may not be out of place. 
Having awaited the break of day in the wooden liouse erected at the curling-pond one frosty morning 
early in December 18G3, I cautiously looked over the low wall that divides the sandy links from the 
cultivated land as soon as tliere was sufficient light to make observations on the dark swampy ground 
below. Ducks had been the object of my search, and though the air was thick with slowly falling snow 
a rapid glance revealed tlie fact that none were present. After waiting a few minutes, however, several 
dark spots became invisible, apparently moving slowly over the moss now partially white with snow. 
Though doubtful in the first instance, I was convinced at last that birds were in view, a small group of 
at least half a dozen having gathered where but one had Iveen discerned a few minutes earlier. Lar^-e 
numbers of Golden Plover had been heard at flight-time the previous niglit, calling loudly round the 
duck-pits*, without offering a chance, and these I concluded, after passing the night on the sands and 
muds of the bay, had now betaken themselves inland. Without a sound to disturb the unsuspecting flock, 
the gun was raised, thougli for a time I hesitated, so motionless were the objects. A wing slowly raised 
at last attracted attention, and the trigger was instantly touched, the second barrel being discharo-ed 
almost at random, owing to the smoke and haze caused by the state of the atmosphere. The well-knowm 
call of the Snipe uttered on all sides left no longer any doubt as to the species, between one and two 
bundled biids having risen at the shot along the course of the stream. After picking u^) three or four 
couple from the moss and following a few small wisps lower down the links, my ammunition began 
to be exhausted. Under such circumstances, it was by no means consoling to watch the birds, after 
wheeling round, alighting about every piece of water where the mud was unfrozen, exhibiting the greatest 
disinclination to rise on wing from even the very smallest amount of cover. No preparation in the way 
of cartridges having been made for securing a heavy bag, and being distant also between five and six 
miles from home, I was forced to quit the spot with fourteen couple of Snipe and a Mallard. The following 
morning the w'eather was more open and birds were far less numerous; though tlie whole of the links 
as far as Aberlady Burn were thoroughly searched, only ten or a dozen couple were flushed. 
Snipes, when plentiful, rise at times so thickly and fly in such close company that I have repeatedly 
seen three or four birds brought down by a single shot. While shooting on the ronds round Ileigham 
Sounds in November 1871, a wisp of five birds rose wild at the distance of at least one hundred yards. 
After wheeling high in the air for a few minutes the whole party swept down to the level of the marsh, and 
expecting that their line of flight would bring them within range, I raised my gun just in time to* stop 
the leader as they came in view through the reeds over the marsh wall; on proceeding to the spot, 
one bird alone retained sufficient strength to flutter a short distance, the remainder of the wisp lyin^ 
lifeless or helpless on the bank. 
The Slades and sloppy rush-marshes in parts of Pevensey Level formerly attracted large flights of 
Snipe; of late years, however, their numbers have greatly decreased. On two occasions I happened to 
be on the spot shortly after the arrival of the birds, and the immense numbers seen on wing will not 
* Shelters dug out near the pools ou the links in which to await the Ducks. 
