Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Snipe

SNIPE, the Common, or Scolopax gallinago, L. a bird of passage, of which there are more than forty varieties, mostly breeding in Europe, and subsisting on insects. Some of these wild-fowl frequent moors, others delight in swampy bushes, and still others in the open fields. The two first classes are common in Britain, especially during the summer, and sometimes throughout the year. They seldom exceed four ounces in weight, and are, together with their long bill, from 10 to 12 inches in length: the breast and belly are white; the back is covered with long feathers, beautifully variegated with black and reddish-brown spots.

Snipes are most frequent on lofty mountains, and in moors, bogs, or marshy situations; where they construct their nests of dried grass, and lay four dusky olive-coloured eggs. They may be easily taken, by placing in their haunts, twigs of birch covered with bird-lime, in various directions: when one of the birds is caught, the sportsman should not be too hasty in removing it; because the creature will feed with the twig beneath its wing, and thus decoy numerous other snipes.

But the most usual methods of obtaining these birds, are by means of nets, and by the gun, in the months of November or December, being then very fat: and, as they always move against the wind, the fowler ought to place himself in the same direction; because they will then fly towards him, and consequently present a fair mark, at which he may aim with some prospect of success.

Snipes possess a most delicate flavour; on account of which they are highly esteemed at the tables of the opulent; who prefer them to partridges: but, as the former bird is eaten together with its intestines, which contain many stimulant insects, &c. it has been justly supposed, that the frequent indulgence in such food, is apt to induce the gout, or at least to accelerate its paroxysms.