SN I I’ES, ETC. 65 
     
    
   
   
    
     another station, as if the flock were playing a 
     
     wild game of “follow your leader.” A few days 
     
    
   
   
    
     at this time is all we see them. 
     
    
   
   
    
     M9”- 
     
    
   
   
    
     §iiipc5, Gift. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Woodcock is common in Prince Edward 
     
     Island. It arrives early in May and makes its 
     
     chief resort along the wet meadows that border 
     
     streams, though at times it frequents any rich 
     
     0an wood. 115 long bill is intended to aid it 
     
     in exploring wet ground for worms and grubs, 
     
     and we have seen a little patch of wet marsh by 
     
     a creek quite studded with these bunchy brown 
     
     birds driving their long bills everywhere into the 
     
     richly stocked ooze. 'l‘hen, what a whir of wings 
     
     there was when they observed the intruder! It 
     
     is the choice game bird of this family, and 
     
     most pursued by sportsmen. 
     
    

    
     The American Snipe, nearly as large, but 
     
     much less fat and clumsy than the Woodcock, 
     
     is a graceful wanderer about our sea—shores and 
     
     stream borders. I have not seen it in flocks. 
     
     but a solitary Jack Snipe may meet you in any 
     
    
   
   
    
     gig-side excursion in late autumn.