158 
WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. 
still more solitary; where, without fear of intrusion, 
they may rear their young broods. Every sportsman 
is well aware of the attachment evinced by these 
birds to some favoured spot. Upon the same patch 
of rushy, marshy ground, the same Jack-Snipe may 
he found, day after day, in spite of the annoyance 
to which it is often exposed from an indifferent 
marksman: up rises the little bird from its rushy 
covert, turning and winding swiftly through the 
air, and thus escaping charge after charge of shot, 
which only seems to add vigour to its wings; and 
after a wide whirl or two, down it darts again, often 
within a few yards of the seat of danger. 
The difficulty of hitting this active little bird is, 
indeed, so proverbial, that we can readily believe a 
story told of a gentleman, — a very bad-shot, — who, 
having at length succeeded in killing a Jack-Snipe, 
deeply lamented the loss of a bird, which, as he was 
always sure of finding it in the same place, had 
afforded him constant amusement during a whole 
Winter. Of this attachment to a particular spot, 
and regular return to it, there can be no doubt ; we 
have already alluded to it in the case of other birds, 
and Woodcocks and Snipes seem to form no ex- 
ceptions to the practice. One instance amongst 
many, will be sufficient to prove the fact. A Wood- 
cock was accidentally found by a keeper, entangled 
in a rabbit-net, and preserved alive; a brass ring 
was put on its left leg, and it was turned loose. 
This occurred in February. On finding itself at 
liberty, it rose to a very great height in the 
air, and directed its flight towards the sea, from 
whence it was distant about twenty miles. In 
