576 
THE JACK SNIPE. 
The nest of this Snipe is a mere depression in the grass, or moss of a meadow. 
Wilson says of this bird, which was named in his honor: “It arrives in Pennsylvania 
about the 10th of March, and remains in the low grounds for several weeks ; the greater part 
then move off to the north, and to the higher inland districts, to breed in our low marshes 
during the summer. Great numbers of these birds winter in the rice grounds of the Southern 
States, where, in the month of February, they appear to be much tamer than they are here in 
the north. On the 20th March I found them extremely numerous about the borders of ponds 
of Louisville, Kentucky. They have the same soaring, irregular flight in the air in gloomy 
weather as the English Snipe ; the same bleating note and occasional rapid descent ; spring 
from the marshes with the same feeble squeak ; and in 'every respect resemble the latter bird, 
except in being about an inch less, and in having sixteen feathers in its tail instead of 
fourteen. 
This Snipe is eleven inches long, and seventeen in extent of wing. The sexes are much 
alike, save that the colors of the female are somewhat more obscure and less defined than in 
the male. 
The Red-breasted Snipe (. Macrorhamphus griseus), called also Brown-back, Gray 
Snipe, and Dowitclier, inhabits the whole of North America, Greenland, and Mexico, West 
Indies, Central America, and much of South America. It is occasionally seen in Europe. 
Distinguished from the former, it has longer legs, and a web between outer and middle toes, 
twelve instead of sixteen tail-feathers, and some other less important characters. 
In migrating, this Snipe moves in vast numbers northward in April, where they breed, 
returning in August. 
Dr. Coues met with the Gray -backs in considerable numbers in Dakota. He found it 
unsuspicious and gentle, sociable in company with other waders and with various sea-fowl that 
congregate on the borders of the great lakes and rivers of the West, where they congregate, 
probing here and there the mud-flats for food, sticking their bills perpendicularly into the soil 
the full length with a quick, dexterous movement, and sometimes even submerging the whole 
head for a moment. All the while they chat with each other in a low, pleasing tone. When 
fired at, notwithstanding some of their companions may lie dead, or in the agonies of death, 
the flock returns to the same spot. They are singular for their flying so compactly in groups, 
and for massing closely on alighting. Being partly w T eb-footed, they are good swimmers for 
short distances. When feeding undisturbed they are extremely pleasing in appearance, and 
their movements are very graceful. Wilson describes their movements as follows : “ They fly 
very rapidly, sometimes coursing, wheeling, and doubling along the surface of the marshes ; 
then shooting high in air, then separating and forming in various bodies, uttering a kind of 
quivering whistle.” 
This Snipe is ten inches and a half long, and eighteen inches in extent of wing. The 
female is paler on the back than its mate. The breeding occurs not far north of the United 
States. Of all our seaside Snipes it is the most numerous, and is highly prized as a delicacy. 
Another form of this species, regarded as a variety, is called the Greater Gray-back 
and Red-bellied Snipe {M. griseus scolopaceus). 
The little Jack Snipe is seldom seen in northern countries except in the winter, and is 
remarkable for its tenacity in clinging to the ground even on the near approach of an enemy. 
Terror seems to have some part in this propensity, for Mr. Yarrell remarks that a Jack Snipe 
has allowed itself to be picked up by hand before the nose of a pointer. It has also a strong 
attachment to localities, adhering closely to one spot, and always returning to the same place 
after a while. It is not an easy bird to shoot unless taken at the rise, when there is danger 
that so diminutive a bird may be blown to pieces by the first discharge, for it dodges about 
and skims just over the heather, in a vastly perplexing manner. There is a story told of a 
gentleman not remarkable for his skill in shooting, who was found lamenting over the corpse 
of a Jack Snipe which he had succeeded in killing, and whose death had deprived him of the 
amusement which he had enjoyed for many weeks, as the bird could always be found in 
