Gallinago winsoni. 
1870. 
Sopt. 8. 
! 
1871. 
Oct. 14. 
1874. 
Jan, 24. 
Nov. 6. 
“ 20 . 
II 
ij 
i 
1876. 
Doc. 5. 
Just at dusk heard the harsh scaioe of one of these 
flying over a small piece of reclaimed meadow on the edge 
of Parling Pond (Maine). 
Numerous, feeding on the edge of the salt marslies 
where fresh water springs ooze out from under a high 
bank. We also found several in small pond-holes in the 
woods. They are said to vyintor here in numbers (Marstorf 
Mills, Mass.). 
Captain Baxter tolls me that Snipe are v/intering 
in numbers at Marston*s Mills, Capo God, They freqont 
a narrow strip of springy marsh extending t \70 or three 
miles along the banks of a smally river. There the 
ground never freezes and the grass remains green the 
winter through. 
Numbers in their winter quarifters along the riverv 
(Marston’s Mills, ?4ass.). 
Goodalo started six at Abbington,Mass. and killlod 
three, all very largo fat birds. 
Explored the -winter haunt of the Wlson’s Snipe at 
Marston’s Mills and started seven birds there. The 
place merits detailed deecription. A brook, averaging 
about ten feet wide, winds for several miles through one 
of the most tangled swamps that I have ever seen. In 
places it runs swiftly over gravelly shaliowar, in others 
settles in still, dark pools two or more foot deep. 
It was formally a famous fishing g-ound for sea trout. 
The banks are densely wooded v/ith birch, maples and al¬ 
ders, from fifteen to tv^enty feet high, and thickly fes¬ 
tooned by green briar and v/ild grape vines. The swamp 
itself is impenetrable save by the natural pathway formed 
by the brook, and even this is choked in places by the 
vine swigg across from Sank to bank. At frequent inter¬ 
vals, springy runs which empty into the main stream, 
spread spread about through the adjoining cover; they 
never freeze, and to-day I found them as green as in 
June. Hero the Snipe lie and feed most of the time, 
although they also visit the salt marshes and flats at 
night v/hen the tide is low. They acted differently 
from any Snipe I ever saw. As I waded dovm the course 
of the brook they would rise among the bushes witK a hea¬ 
vy v/hi^ring and topping the trees like Woodcock instant¬ 
ly disappear. Occasionally they would start from the 
bank and flitting lov^ over the water in perfect silence 
follov; the course of the brook for a few yards and alight 
again. In this v/ay I started one five or six times 
before I got a shot, always driving him on aheaci of me. 
Only one—v/hich I flushed in a little meadow—flew and 
spaiped in the usual manner. Captain Baxter tells me 
