JACK SNIPE. 
3 
. was placed in ray hands and jiractice next attempted. There was little difficulty in finding birds during 
that inclement season ; a defective penstock to a large fish-pond permitted a constant supply of running water 
to escape over several acres of marshland where springs also existed, and here the Jacks delighted to congregate. 
Should a Snipe be flushed, and the numbers fairly counted before firing, I was allowed to continue shooting 
even though a miss resulted. Supposing the gun Avas discharged before the six was reached, no 
allovAance was made for a kill. Ihe keeper then claimed the gun for the succeeding chance, and practically 
demonstrated hoA\ easily, when his directions were followed, the slaughter of these bewildering birds might 
be accomplished. It is hard on thirty years since I profited by these lessons; but even noAV the Avell- 
remembered one, two, three, &c. frequently rises to ray lips Avhen the inevitable Jack appears, and ill 
luck invariably attends the bird that is patiently waited for. 
On a cold wintry evening in March 1809, Avhile shooting near Tain, on the east coast of Ross-shire, I 
watched a Jack, which Acav in from the direction of the sea, alight on the shore of a small frozen burn. 
On bemg closely approached, he strutted slowly up to the soft and freshly fallen snoiv covering the banks, and 
dehbm’ately thrust his head out of sight in the drift. Eor several minutes this singular bird retained his 
position, makmg, indeed, not the slightest attempt to escape till a stick was inserted in the siioav and a 
portion of his hiding-place crumbled away. He then went off in the habitual perplexing fashion of his 
race, as if nothing unusual had occurred. This is the only instance I have Avitnessed of a Jack conductino- 
himself in such a strange manner. The bird might doubtless have been picked up, so deeplv did he 
bury his head m the snow-drift. That he was previously wounded Avas improbable, having been observed 
on AAung for a longer flight than is usually undertaken by this species. 
The Jack, unlike its larger relative the “ whole” Snipe, is seldom wild and unapproachable. I never met 
with them gathered into flocks, flying and settling in company after the manner of those birds. Ten or a 
dozen up to even forty or fifty may frequently be found scattered over a small space ; but on risino- on wiiif> 
the company break up and separate. Though usually dropping after a short and erratic flight, I have often 
seen Jacks go off strong on wiug, Avith an evident intention of leaving the locality. 
The difficulty of finding and putting up these strange birds is well known to all sportsmen ; Avithout a 
s ea y dog accustomed to their habits, large numbers must invariably be passed over. Jacks may 
requently be^ detected squatting on the moist ground, the attention usually being attracted by the eye or 
the yellow stripes on the back. On one occasion, Avhile cautiously making niy way across a Avaving boo-* oyer 
which my weight was causing the water to rise rapidly to a depth of three or four inches, I noticed three 
floated off the short herbage and rushes on which they were squatted and swept down to my feet by 
the force of the current before they attempted to take Aving, one of the birds being carried by the rush 
of the Avater a distance of three or four yards. The poor little fellow made no attempt to sAvim, the le<>s 
eing kept perfectly still, and the head remaining drawn back betAveen the shoulders, Avith the beak pointed 
forwards m the position into which they subside Avhen danger approaches. 
In one instance where a dealer in birds attempted to cITect a capture, a net was placed completely over 
e small patch of rushes to which a couple were accustomed to resort. The ground having been brushed 
over with a switch without result, it was imagined the birds were absent; the moment, however the 
net was withdrawn, up started the tAvo Jacks. ’ 
In some remote districts in the fen countries there is, or used to be, an impression amono. the old 
gunners that the Jack and the “ whole ” Snipe were one and the same species— Jacks being the males! 
• The ground in this peed-bed wan exceedingly dungcrons in many parte. A thin cake of ooil hid formed over the rotten .w™ ' . 
Tl »■''»« 0”ly • »tr.nd or two of veL.T 
B owe roug . The whole surface waved and sunk over a space of several yards when crossed, the water gradually ri,i„n On such Boot 
when a eommehcement has once been made, the roots of th. water-plants usually gain strength in a few yours, and a firm boltorn is estabbshor 
