2 
JACK SNIPE. 
the bitcli round the pool, she made straight for the side of a small drain near which we had passed, and 
immediately picked up a second. It was obvious this bird had been previously detected, but the living 
mouthful already secured would have rendered another capture impossible *. Glenlyon was by no means 
a favoured resort of the Jack Snipe, some ten or twenty couples being the utmost brought to bag during 
any season I remained in the district. The birds, however, put in an appearance as early as in any 
locality I am acquainted with. Put a single Jack has been entered in my notes as observed in advance 
of the Glenlyon birds (September 20); this was shot September 18, 1879, near Ilickling in Norfolk. 
Large flights make their appearance in the east of Norfolk early in October, the 7th and 9th being 
dates on which I have found them particularly numerous in the neighbourhood of the broads. On one 
occasion (October 21, 1871), while shooting on the rondos round Ileigham Sounds, twelve birds were 
dropped in rapid succession without stirring a foot, as fast as the cartridges could be inserted in the 
gun. Between forty and fifty Jacks must have been flushed within gunshot, the birds rising in some 
instances two or three together, but for the most part singly, each striking out a course for itself. 
Snipe, both “ whole ” and Jack, were in immense numbers on that occasion, and, strange to say, lay well, 
which is seldom the case when found in wisps or thickly scattered over the ground. A rough morning 
with heavy showers had been succeeded by a soaking rain, which continued without intermission till after 
dark. I only became aware of the arrival of the Snipe late in the afternoon on my way towards the 
broads to learn if the storm had driven in any fowl from the coast. There was little more than an 
hour of daylight after I reached the spot — added to which my small stock of cartridges was speedily 
shot away, and all chance of further sport effectually put a stop to. Twelve and a half couple of Snipes 
(principally Jacks) were obtained ; but a heavy bag might have been secured, notwithstanding the inclemency 
of the weather, had I commenced operations earlier in the day, well supplied with ammunition A few 
days previous (October 9th), I met with a party of Jacks on a small marsh known as Ludham Hover • 
they were twenty in number, and every bird was brought to bag. In this instanee “ whole ” Snipe were 
conspicuous by their absence ; though at various times I have seen from fifty to one hundred collected 
on this piece of marshland, but a single bird was sprung on this occasion and (both barrels bein- empty at 
the moment) he escaped. ^ 
Pevcnscy Level in days gone by ,vas a groat resort for Jacks, immense fligbts being occasionally met 
rnth. The first week m December 1800, and early in March 1800. these birds as well as ■■ whole ” 
nipe n ere especially plentiful The mimbers visiting this locality have, during the past twenty vears, 
a en off, and the same may he said coneerniiig eertaiii parts of Komney Marsh in Kent. Eariy in 
1800 the wliole Snipe were apparently driven from the county by the severity of the weather in the 
n tl!. f ’ “““ al>undance scattered 
tot te n I • °t ", T " long-protracted and bitter frost of 
that teiiible winter, I was handed over to a keener in mv f-itl.ov’c • j i • • • 
of shooting Jack Snipes— broken in, as the old man termed it As the , r „ , , 
effective and. to the best of my knowledge, ori-nnal it 1 v t . ‘7 " . 
fines to a description of ids mode of tuition. A Jack Snine ° t 
invariably missed through firing too quicklv lioth 1, , ' ^ *“sl™ctor truly argued, was almost 
is five and twenty yards'from the mnz:^o^tl,e 1 „ ^it 
forced to repeat aloud one. two, three, four five sK after the S ' ^ 
gun to the shoulder. The first lesso; being dulv tap eted n 3 "1 T, 
p .sed on my mind, the antiquated muzzle-loader 
* I noticed the same bitch cleverly avoid the Tfnto««Uvr ■ 
which had fallen dead on the opposite bank. On landing she first fetched Th f ^‘•'spatched to retrieve a couple of Mallard 
placed both together, and carefully taking the two in her mouth, successfully LZ viZ 
