70 
BRITISH BIRDS, 
infers and grubs, of various kinds, which breed in 
great abundance in thofe flimy ftagnant places. In 
thefe retreats, when undifturbed, the Snipe walks 
leifurely, with its head ered, and at fliort inter- 
vals keeps moving the tail. But in this ftate of 
tranquillity it is very rarely to be feen, as it is ex- 
tremely watchful, and perceives the fportfman or 
his dog at a great diflance, and inftantly conceals 
itfelf among the variegated withered herbage, fo h- 
milar in appearance to its own plumage, that it is 
almofl impoffible to difcover it while fquatted mo- 
tionlefs in its feat : it feldom, however, waits the 
near approach of any perfon, particularly in open 
weather, but commonly fprings, and takes flight at 
a diflance beyond the reach of the gun. When 
firfl diflurbed, it utters a kind of feeble whiflle, 
and generally flies againfl the wind, turning nimbly 
in a zigzag diredion for two or three hundred 
paces, and fometimes foaring almofl out of fight 5 
its note is then fomething like the bleating of a 
goat, but this is changed to a Angular humming or 
drumming noife, uttered in its defcent. 
From its vigilance and manner of flying, it is one 
of the mofl difficult birds to fhoot. Some fportfmen 
can imitate their cries, and by that means draw them 
within reach of their fhot ; others, of a lefs honour- 
able defeription, prefer the more certain and lefs la- 
borious method of catching them in the night by 
a fpringe like that which is ufed for the Woodcock, 
