96 
SCOLOPAX BEEIIMII. 
name of the English snipe, to distinguish it from 
woodcock, and from several othere of the same 
It arrives in Pennsylvania about the 10th of MarC"' 
and remains in the low grounds for several n eeks ; tj' 
greater part then move off to the north, and to t" 
higher inland districts, to breed. A few are occasional* 
found, and, consequently, breed, in our low marsb<^ 
during the summer. When they first arrive, they **j, 
usually lean ; but, when in good order, are account*^ 
excellent eating. They are perhaps the most diffiC* 
to shoot of aU our birds, as they dy in sudden 
lines, and very rapidly. Great numbers of these hit^ 
winter on the rice grounds of the Southern Stal^ 
n here, in the month of February, they appeared to ^ 
much tamer than they are usually here, as I frequent'j 
observed them running about among the springs 
watery thickets. I was told by the inhabitants tl^ 
they generally disappeared early in the spring. On ta 
20th of March, I found these birds extremely numero"’ 
on the borders of the ponds near Louisville, Kentucl'l' 
and also in the neighbourhood of Lexingtou, in w 
same State, as late as the 10th of April. 1 was told W 
several people that they are abundant in the UlinO'' 
country, up as far as lake Michigan. They are 
seldom seen in Pennsylvania during the summer, h'* 
are occasionally met with in considerable numbers 
their return in autumn, along the whole eastern side 
the Alleghany, from the sea to the mountains. Thfl 
have the same soaring irregular flight in the aiVi 
gloomy weather, as the snipe of Europe ; the sa>^ 
bleating note and occasional rapid descent ; spring 
the marshes with the like feeble squeak ; and, in eV*'! 
respect resemble the common snii)e of Britain, excfP 
in being about an inch less ; ami in having sixt**^ 
feathers in the tail instead of fourteen, the nunih*^ 
said by Bewick to be in that of Europ<‘. Prom tht®^ 
circumstances, we must either conclude this to b<t r 
different species, or partially changed by difference’ 
climate ; the former appears to me the most prob®" 
opinion of the two. 
f 
