278 
S COLOP AClDiE. 
THE JACK SNIPE. 
Seolojjax gallinulaj Linn. 
Is common for nearly half the year in Ireland, from the 
end of autumn until late in spring. 
Judging of the arrival of this bird in the neighbourhood of 
Belfast from notes kept for many years, the 1st of October is about 
the average date. The earliest were seen on the 20th of Septem- 
ber* (1836), and the latest on the 2Ist of October (I833).f 
Erom the returns of a relative's shooting every year from 1835 
to 1842 inclusive — chiefly within ten miles of Belfast — it appears 
that he killed jack snipes each season until the last day upon 
which he shot, ending from the 20th to the 23rd of March, at 
which period there was no diminution or increase to their num- 
bers from what he met with at mid-winter : on March 21st, 1836, 
three brace were killed; on March 23rd, 1838, four brace; and 
on March 23rd, 1836, the latter number, these being respectively 
the last shooting days of the season. { On the 8th of April, I 
once met with this bird near Belfast. The number of jack snipes 
compared with that of common snipes killed by my friend will be 
interesting both to the naturalist and sportsman. These returns 
must not be supposed as given to show the quantity of birds that 
can be obtained in Ireland, as the country shot over contains very 
* Earlier than this it must he remarked there was no opportunity of the sportman’s 
meeting with them ; the 20th of September being the first day of partridge-shooting 
in Ireland, and that on which he commences his campaign in districts where there is 
no grouse-shooting. 
t A friend shooting at Aberarder in the north of Inverness-shire, noted the first 
jack snipe to be seen on the 27th of September, in 1838, and about the same time in 
the following year. In the month of September 1842, which I myself spent there, 
the first appeared on the 26th, upon which day the bird probably arrived, as had it 
been in the locality on the precediug day, it could hardly have escaped notice. A single 
bird only was seen on each instance. Mr. St. John tells us he once “ killed a jack 
snipe on the 16th of September [in Morayshire] which is far earlier than these birds 
are usually seen. * * * In no other year have I ever seen one before the 8th 
of October; even that is very early.” — ‘Tour in Sutherland,’ vol, i. p. 286. 
j; Of 21-| brace of snipe killed by a sportsman about Springmount, near Clougb 
(Antrim) on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of March, 1848, 14 brace were jacks, being a 
larger proportion than he had ever before killed of them. The relative proportion 
of the two species seen was similar to that obtained. 
