HE JACKSNIPE (QallinagoWiUonii) AS A RUSTLER. 
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/AA£23;2. s ^<Mee-tee-se, Wyo. Teh. 
Editor American Field:— My attention was recently 
rrested, in a late issue, by an account of a very late ap- 
earance in the Fall of the jacksnipes at some point in Wis- 
onsin, I believe. This reminded me of an intention al- 
eady formed of giving you the particulars of a still more 
rratic performance of this justly celebrated game bird. It 
ill be premised that my locality is among the foothills of 
he Rockies, at an elevation of about 6,500 feet, near the in- 
ersection of the 109)4 ° meridian west longitude and the 
4th parallel of latitude. Winter set in rather early as, 
n the 30th of October, there was a minimum of 3 ° F. ; be- 
ween the 15th and 25th of November a long cold snap, with 
inimum during several days of 13 ® , 20 ® , 21 ° ; on De- 
cember 11, 3° ; December 21, 8° ; December 26, 26° ; De- 
•ember 31, 6° ; January 6 to 10, 1887, with minimum of 
2 ® and 27 ° , and January 17, 11)4 ° . 
During the Summer at several times were seen a pair or 
0 of these birds in my upper meadow, but they were 
bought to be transient passers. On December 25, after the 
everal cold snaps above given, I was astonished, in passing 
an open spring in my upper meadow, to see a pair of jack- 
snipes fly up, giving tongue to their old familiar “scaipe.” 
It should have been stated that since the middle of Novem- 
ber the whole country has been wrapped in a mantle of ice 
and snow ; no open water except a few springs that had 
een sufficiently cleaned out to prevent freezing. There is 
a spring in my upper and another in my lower meadow yet 
pen, from which are drain ditches of twelve to twenty-four 
'nches in depth that, from the drifting of the 
snow, have been covered over and are really 
covered drains, the water passing through without 
freezing. The water from the springs runs ten to fifteen yards 
before entering these covered drains, which is the only open 
water known for ten miles. After first noticing the pres- 
ence of these birds, I have been on the lookout for them 
and have placed bread and slices of beef where they would 
be likely to find it. It was devoured by some birds, but 
whether by jacksnipes or that prince of thieves, the magpie, 
or the dear, cheerful, sociable little chick-a-dee, it is un- 
known. These snipes have been several times seen at one 
or the other of these springs since December 25, the last 
time until to-day (January 31) on the 17th of January. 
Since then, within a few days past, a fearful blizzard has 
passed over this district, the barometer having been at the 
lowest point ever reached. It lasted sixty hours, with wind 
at its maximum velocity, but its temperature at no time 
reaching lower than 3° F. To living things exposed to it 
hat was, however, equivalent to a temperature of 30° or 40° 
elow zero with the air calm. Every particle of water ex- 
cept these two springs was covered with snow for that time. 
1 had given up hope for the jacksnipes, until to-day, January 
31, 1887, when I was rejoiced to hear their familiar 
“scaipe” as they flew up from near the spring, flying as vig- 
orously and “scaipeing” as cheerily, as I have so often 
hear^^&e^wshesjn Missouri and Illinois. 
Where do these birds roost and on what do they subsist ? 
In getting up from the spring, they sometimes fly fifty 
yards into a willow thicket through which a branch runs, 
which has a few open places, into which they alight and 
they are there a little more protected from the wind than at 
the springs. They could easily get into those covered 
i ditches, which are wejl ventilated and warm, and where 
< they could feed' oh water plants, or worms were there any 
to be had. Each spring branch has tender water plants on 
which they probably subsist. I shall watch their movements 
and report further as to their welfare. I had thought, at 
one time, of invoking the prayers of all good sportsmen for 
the welfare of these birds, but on second thought, it seemed 
doubtful that they would be of much avail and, secondly, 
these jacksnipes had proven themselves such “rustlers,” 
that it appeared they were in nowise in need of Divine in- 
terposition. 
This recalls that about the middle of October, 1880, I saw 
a pair of these birds on the head waters of the North Fork of 
Stinking River, Wyoming ; the river thereloccupies a gorge _ 
in the mountains four to five thousand feet below the over- 
looking mountains, with occasionally a sage brush flat slop- 
ing down to the water. In passing along the trail through 
one of these flats, a pair of these birds flew up and lit just 
ahead. My shotgun being convenient, I killed them and ^ 
found them fat. They were found to be delicious eating, 
even after fat elk. Though the stream was not frozen, the 
ground was frozen at that time. 
Though these details are somewhat extended, I am sure 
they will be of interest to a large class of your readers. 
P. S , February 3. Since the above was written an unus- 
ually cold snap has followed the blizzard. On the night of 
February 1 the temperature receded to 36 ° below zero 
(Farenheit), and all day February 2, 20 ° below was the 
highest, usually 25 ° to 30 ° . Being anxious about Jack’s 
welfare, he was hunted up, and approaching cautiously, 
close enough to see his eyes, he was observed sitting in the 
water of one of the springs, his legs covered with water, his 
head buried as far as possible in his feathers, and making 
.himself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. 
The water of ;One of the springs tested to-day showed a 
temperature of .41 ° F. This snipe, it will be admitted, is a 
oYinil rustier 
ociation will include all its original lounaers intended, 
nd for this purpose the association is sending out the fol 
