OF BIRDS. 49 
marthy places, »where they cannot be difturbed by 
cattle: itis made of dry grafs and of feathers, 
and contains four or five eggs. 
‘The young ones leave the neft as foon. as they 
quit the fhell ; and their parents take care of them 
until their long bills (which at firft are very foft) 
become fo hard, that they can ufe them to provide 
for themfelves. It is very likely that Snipes feed 
upon worms. | 
Snipes are very difficult to be fhot, becaufe 
they hide themfelves carefully in marfhes, where it 
is not eafy to go to them; but they may be taken 
in fnares, like Woodcocks. Snipes are very de- 
licate food. They do not feem to be fo plentiful 
as Woodcocks, but they are found in almoft every 
_ part of the world. 
They will not bear confinement, and therefore 
‘cannot be brought up tame. 
In thofe iflands where they have been undif- 
turbed by men, they fhew no figns of fear. 
They build their nefts in an open expofed fitua- 
tion, and do not dip when they firft take their 
flight. The cock Snipe, whilft his mate is fitting, 
poifes himfelf on his wings, and makes fometimes 
a whilfting, and fometimes a drumming noife. 
When they are. difturbed, efpecially in the 
breeding feafon, they foar to a vaft height, and 
PART Il. Cc when 

