188 
THE SNIPE. 
Mr. Ives, of Salem, also informs me, that a few pairs of this 
species breed in that vicinity. 
The Snipe, almost nocturnal in its habits, conceals itself 
with assiduity in the long grass, sedge, and rushes of its 
enswamped and boggy retreat. Aware of danger from the 
approach of the sportsman, it springs at a distance with 
great rapidity, uttering usually a feeble squeak ; and making 
several inflections before it takes a direct course, it becomes 
very difficult to shoot, and is more easily caught with a 
snare or springe similar to that which is set for woodcocks. 
Being, deservedly, in high repute, as an exquisite flavoured 
game, great pains are taken to obtain Snipes. 
In the spring season, on their first arrival, they are lean ; 
but in the autumn, assembled towards the coast from all 
parts of the interior, breeding even to the banks of the 
Mississippi, they are now fat and abundant, and, accom- 
panied by their young, are at this time met with in all the 
low grounds and enswamped marshes along the whole range 
of the Atlantic ; but ever shy and dexterous, they are only 
game for the most active and eager sportsmen. When on 
the wing, they may, like many other birds of this family, 
be decoyed and attracted by the imitation of their voice. 
They are, like the European Snipe, which migrates to 
winter in England, by no means averse to cold weather, so 
long as the ground is not severely frozen, in such a manner 
as to exclude their feeding ; so that even in Massachusetts 
they are found occasionally down to the middle of December. 
