180 
COMMON SNIPE. 
permanently remain, but in all districts we believe 
that a partial migration takes place, and we receive 
a large accession of numbers about the period of the 
arrival of our earliest winter visiters, which again, 
in part at least, remove with the coming spring. 
The general character of the English counties is 
rather unfavourable for this bird, but wherever these 
are suitable, it abounds. As we proceed to the north- 
ward, the moisture and moorlands increase, and 
with them the Snipe, and it reaches and increases 
in numbers, even to the most distant of the Hebri- 
des. In the breeding season, the relative frequency 
of incubation is comparative with its numbers ; and, 
on reaching the Scottish border, it may be said to 
breed every where. The localities preferred at this 
time, are the edges of marshy grounds ; or, where 
these are very extensive, some drier spot amidst 
the lower moors, and the borders of the northern 
lochs. In the south, the marshes in the commons, 
and the open marshy valleys in the tracts called 
forests, are frequented by them. The nest is placed 
on some dry raised tuft or hillock, and it is a pressed 
or scraped hollow, the little herbage that is present 
being used, rather than a nest formed of carried 
materials. At this season, or when the pairing has 
commenced, the birds may be heard piping among 
the herbage, or may be both seen and heard in the 
air, performing their evolutions, and uttering the 
loud drumming sound, which, at one time, gave 
rise to so much discussion in regard to the manner 
in which it was performed. The sound is never 
