COMMON SNIPE 
part of South America; but the remainder appear to be comparatively 
local in their distribution ; G. nobilis^ G. jamesoni, and G. imperialis being 
only known from the north-west, and inhabiting Colombia, Ecuador, 
or Bolivia ; while G. andina inhabits Peru ; and G. stricklandi ranges from 
Chile to the Straits of Magellan. 
Distribution in the British Isles. — ^The common snipe is resident in 
the British Isles, and breeds wherever marshy ground suitable to its 
habits is to be found. In England it is most abundant in the eastern 
counties of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, 
also in some parts of Wales ; it is likewise common on the moorlands and 
marshes of Scotland; but it is most plentiful in Ireland, where the exten- 
sive bogs provide a large area of ground eminently suited to its tastes. 
The number of snipe that breed in these islands is, however, small com- 
pared with the vast numbers of migrants which annually visit our shores 
in October and November, and usually remain till March, when the 
majority return to more northern latitudes to breed. The migration takes 
place at night, generally with an east or north-east wind, the birds usually 
travelling singly or in pairs, more rarely in small parties of half a dozen 
or so. At such times many are killed by striking against the lanterns of 
the lighthouses. 
The migratory movement, as in the case of the woodcock, etc., is 
largely dependent on weather, the first arrivals appearing towards the 
end of September. The numbers increase during the first half of October, 
and the migration reaches its height during the last half of that month, 
and is continued, with gradually diminishing numbers, till the beginning 
of December. The dates of arrival are, however, very variable, and are 
largely governed by early or late frosts and snows. Between the middle 
of February and the early part of March the majority of snipes leave Great 
Britain and return to the more northern breeding-grounds, but it is certain 
that, as in the case of the woodcock, the number of birds remaining to 
breed in our islands is steadily increasing, and has been largely augmented 
during recent years. 
Food. — ^Like woodcocks, snipes subsist mainly on earth-worms, all 
kinds, except the brandling, being equally acceptable as food. These 
are obtained by probing in the soft earth in the same manner as the 
woodcock. As has been proved by the study of birds in captivity, a 
snipe is capable of consuming in an evening an amount of worms equal 
to at least twice its own weight. It is also partial to the grubs of the 
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