2

And

1830, but the larger part retire to more northern and more secluded localities. It loves open glades, and moist ground in woods, and is not therefore often seen in the down districts. Occasionally, as I learn from Mr. Stratton, of Gore Cross, who is a keen observer of birds, as well as from my friend Mr. William Tanner, of Rockley, it is to be met with in our more exposed covers on the hills. But the moister climate of Ireland seems to have attractions for the Woodcocks which this country does not hold out, for we learn from Mr. Knox's admirable book that "forty couple is frequently the result of one days sport in the Emerald Isle." yet this is as nothing compared to the immense quantities which are obtained in the evergreen woods and swamps of the Greek coast and Ionian Islands, as we may gather from Lord Lilford's graphic account in the Ibis. The Woodcock is a nocturnal feeder, as might be inferred from its immense, full, dark, bright, and very prominent eyes, which are also placed very far back in the head, and give the bird a singular staring appearance. Unlike its congeners it seeks the retirement of woods during the day, only emerging at twilight or dusk to its feeding places in swampy ground. Its flight is perfectly noiseless, and very rapid, and it is marvellous how quickly and accurately it will thread its way through the thick branches of the trees, and very soon it will close its wings, and suddenly drop into any tempting cover, and then run to shelter into any rank grass, or thick underwood it can find. It is a solitary bird, and seldom associates with its fellows. Its plumage is peculiarly rich, of a deep brown colour, barred and spotted, and crossed with black or very dark brown.

"Great Snipe." (Scolopax major). I have little doubt that this species is often confused with its commoner relative, and mistaken for a large specimen of S. gallinago; while fine individuals of that bird have undoubtedly in their turn equally been hailed as S. major. Since however the attention of naturalists has been directed to the points in which these species differ, the Great Snipe is found to be sparingly scattered over the country every autumn; 1 Game Birds and Wild Fowl, p. 50.

2 Ibis for 1860, vol. ii., pp. 340—342, See also Thompson's Natural History of Ireland, vol. ii., p. 242.

and Wiltshire is one of the counties named by Montagu in which it had then been observed. The late Mr. Marsh reported that one was killed in Winterslow Wood, in 1831, and he had himself seen a specimen in Christian Malford, though he was not able to obtain it and the Rev. George Powell tells me of one killed in South Wilts, in 1854; and quite lately of another killed by his brother, at Hurdcott, on the 25th September, 1868: when from some unexplained cause these birds were extraordinarily numerous in many parts of England: and I have notices of another killed on Salisbury Plain, another at Milton, near Pewsey, and of several others on the borders of the county. It is often called the "Solitary" Snipe, as it was supposed, though it seems erroneously, to shun the society of its fellows. It is also called the "Double" Snipe, from its size: the "Silent" Snipe, from its uttering no cry as it rises on the wing; and the "Meadow" Snipe, from its habit of frequenting fields of long coarse grass, whence it is also designated by the Germans "Wiesen Schnepfe." It is rarely seen in England but in the autumn: in summer I have met with it in Norway, where it retires to breed on the vast wild fjelds of that thinly populated country. The principal points wherein it differs from the Common Snipe, are its greater size and heavier form; its smaller and shorter beak; its stouter and shorter legs; and the under plumage invariably barred with brown and white, which in the commoner species is pure white. It also flies more like a Woodcock than a Snipe, and when on the wing, spreads its tail like a fan.

"Common Snipe." (Scolopax gallinago.) It is unquestionable that these birds once so numerous here in winter, are gradually becoming perceptibly scarcer every year. This may be attributed to the general increase of draining, and the reclaiming of fens and marshes; so that, like the Red Indian in America, the Snipe will soon be improved off the face of this country by the rapid advance of high farming. In Wiltshire and the more southern parts of England, it is a true migrant, arriving in the autumn and departing in the spring; but in more northern counties many pairs remain annually to breed in the moors or fens. The shrill alarm cry of this bird, and its peculiar zigzag flight are too well known

to require comment. I may mention, however, that in addition to the sharp scream with which we are all familiar in the winter, it makes a drumming or bleating noise in the breeding season, and hence is called by the French "chévre volant," and in several other languages words equivalent to the "air-goat,” or the “kid of the air." To distinguish it from the succeeding species it is sometimes called the "Whole" Snipe.

"Jack Snipe." (Scolopax gallinula.) This diminutive species might, with much more reason, be denominated "Solitary" than its largest relative, inasmuch as it is almost always found alone. It utters no cry when it rises from the ground, nor does it fly with such twists as does the preceding; and it invariably departs to northern countries for breeding purposes. In general habits, feeding and nesting, the Snipes are all alike. It is often called the "Half" Snipe in allusion to its size; and is said to have derived the name of Jack Suipe from an old erroneous supposition that it was the male of the "Common" Snipe. The provincial names of these three species accurately describe their relative size; the Jack or Half Snipe weighing about two ounces; the Common, Whole, or Full Snipe four ounces; and the Great or Double Snipe eight ounces.

"Knot." (Tringa Canuta.) This is in my judgment one of the most excellent birds for the table: nor am I singular in that opinion; for however little known to modern epicures, it derives its name, Latin as well as English, from the famous Danish King Knut or Canute, who had an especial liking for the flesh of this, the most delicate perhaps of all the well-flavoured family to which it belongs. It is a winter migrant, and the mud-flats and sandbanks of the eastern coast literally swarm with the vast flocks of this species at one moment they will rise simultaneously in a compact body, and after a short flight, settle again in close array on the shore: then they will run at the extreme edge of the receding tide, and seek their food in the ooze laid bare by the retreating waves. The numbers which compose these great flocks must be immense, and cannot contain less than many thousands, so widespread and at the same time so dense is the cloud, which, with one

impulse takes wing, wheels about with simultaneous movement, and as rapidly settles again at the edge of the waves. This general account of their immense numbers may in some degree prepare the way for a marvellous shot, which I am about to relate; and which will doubtless seem incredible to those whose experience is confined to inland shooting only, and who are unaccustomed to see the vast flights of birds which occasionally collect on our coasts; but of the truth of which I have satisfied myself, and therefore do not hesitate to publish the story. It is the custom of the wildfowl shooters or "gunners," as they are called on the Norfolk coast, to paddle noiselessly down the creeks of the Wash in a low narrow gun-boat or canoe, with a large duck gun moving on a swivel lashed like a cannon in the bow; and a single lucky shot into a flock of geese, or ducks, or knots, or other birds, frequently produces a great harvest of spoil. With one of these gunners I am very well acquainted, and have been accustomed to overhaul the produce of his day's or rather night's excursion in search of rare specimens and from him I have gathered a great deal of information on the shore-feeding birds of the eastern coast. He has often astonished me by the quantities of ducks of various species with which his boat was loaded on his return, and I have seen half a sackful of Knots, amounting to above two hundred in number, turned out on the floor of his cottage as the result of one fortunate shot with the long gun: but when he assured me that on one occasion he had picked up and brought home after a single discharge no less than thirty-six dozen and eleven Knots, or four hundred and forty-three birds, I acknowledge that I was incredulous, till conversation with sportsmen of the neighbourhood that the story was true; and then I felt ashamed that ignorance of shore-shooting in the fens led me to doubt the word of an honest man.

convinced

the Wash;

me

Since then I have often watched the

Knots by the hour together on the Norfolk coast, on the shores of and with a double field-glass (the ornithologists best companion) have followed the every movement of these busy birds: and seeing the dense array of the countless hosts which compose a flock, I can well understand the havoc which a well-aimed

discharge of the big gun must cause. I have but one instance of the occurrence of this bird in Wiltshire, when a male was killed at the side of the railway cutting at Langley, in 1850, by Mr. Bethell of Kellaways Mill, and is, I believe, still in his possession.

Considering the high favour in which all birds of the Snipe family are deservedly held for the table, and the method of dressing these birds, as practised in England, though repudiated abroad; considering also the positive assertion which I have made that they do not live by suction, but devour worms and various grubs and insects; it is but fair that I should add that the digestion of all these birds is extraordinarily rapid.

RALLIDE (The Rails).

We are now approaching the more essentially aquatic birds, and there are several characteristics in the family of Rails which lead on to the true water-fowl. Thus their bodies are more compressed and boat-shape, and most of them can swim with ease; their legs are shorter and their feet larger, and with the hind toe more developed than in the preceding family. Their beaks, too, are much harder and stronger, and some of them are furnished with a narrow membrane on the sides of the toes, which is the first approach towards a web-foot. They are for the most part a shy race, and as they generally prefer inland ponds and lakes to the sea-coast, they secrete themselves in the flags and reeds and rushes which border their haunts, and are often found in wet ditches. They creep through the thick cover with amazing quickness, winding their way amidst the dense grass, and are very unwilling to rise on the wing, but when compelled to do so, their flight is heavy and awkward, as might be expected from the shortness of their wings.

"Land-Rail." (Crex pratensis.) This species known also as the Corn-Crake, is familiar to the partridge shooter, and well known

1 Mr. Thompson, who has more practical knowledge of shore-shooting with the swivel gun than any other author of birds with whose work I am acquainted, will be found in great measure to corroborate this assertion. See his Natural History of Ireland, vol. ii., p. 292, under the head of "Dunlin," and p. 309 under the head of "Knot."