
Growth and Development.--Broods which became available because 
the adults were collected were restrained and fed artificially to 
obtain data on growth and development. Measurements in the field of 
captured banded young of known age provided controls on the growth 
measurements, 
The juvenal plumage appears first on the back and scapular 
regions and then on the breast and wing coverts. The primaries. 
break from their sheaths at about the 11th day and then grow rapid- 
ly. Young snipe commence their first flights at between 15 and 18 
days of age, and are able to fly quite well on the 20th day. At 
that time the measurement of the wing from the elbow joint to the 
tip of the longest primary is approximately 100 mmy and the upper 
mandible is about 5 mm. long. A fairly accurate rule of thumb 
for aging young in the field is to allow 2 mm. per day for the 
upper mandible and for the length of the wing 20 mm. on the 11th 
day and 10 mm. per day thereafter. The retrices commence to grow 
out after the 17th day and are only half developed when the young 
commence to fly. A week after flight, perhaps longer, there are 
still traces of down and the head has an immature appearance. 
Young four or five weeks of age cannot be told at a glance from 
adults, but often reveal immaturity by cheeping. 
Figure 2 shows the rapid development of the wing in comparison 
with the slow growth of the mandible. 
In the rearing experiments the first three broods were lost, 
but the fourth and last was raised successfully. Earthworms, cut 
in small pieces, appear to be a satisfactory diet, if grit is also 
provided. The chicks were force-fed at first but would take food 
from forceps or fingers after a day or two. The earthworm diet is 
deficient in water which must be provided after each meal. 
Until the feathers are fairly well developed, the young may 
go into a coma when wet or cold. They can sometimes be revived by 
holding them in a towel or warm ovey. Artificial heat must be 
provided at night and at regular intervals during the day to compen- 
sate for the heat they normally get from brooding. They must be 
warmed, fed, and watered at regular intervals, even during the 
night. I attribute success with the last brood to keeping them in 
my bedroom at night with a can of wdérms nearby. 
Feeding habits.--I have observed adults feeding young up to the 
flying stage. In no instance have I observed chicks feeding them- 
selves, although those raised experimentally would pick up food at 
10 days of age. In the wild, the chicks remained motionless as the 
adult probed and then crowded in to pick the sediment from her bill 
as she raised it after probing. The comparatively slow growth of the 
young snipe's bill may account for its slowness in feeding itself. 
Certainly that slowness, and the necessity for brooding the chicks 
closely, are factors which make it necessary for the petsne birds to 
divide the brood between them. 
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