GRALLATORI^. 385 



Scol.Phseopiis, L.; Petit Cotcrlis; Enl. 142^ Edw. 307^ Frisch, 

 225j Naum. 10, f. 10.(1) Half the size of the preceding, but 

 has nearly the same plumage.(2) 



ScoLOPAx, Cuv.(3) 



The Snipes have a straight beak, the nasal furrows extending to 

 near its point which is a little inflated externally to reach beyond the 

 lower mandible, and on the middle of which there is a simple 

 groove; this point is soft and very sensible, and when dried, after death, 

 assumes a punctured appearance. Their feet are not palmated. A 

 peculiar character of these birds consists in their compressed head 

 and large eyes placed very far back, which gives them a singularly 

 stupid air, an indication which is confirmed by their habits. 



Scot, riisticola, L. ; La Becasse; Enl. 885; Frisch, 126, 227"; 

 Naum. Ed. I, I, f. 1. (The Woodcock.) The well known 

 plumage of this bird is variegated above with grey, red and 

 black spots and bands; grey beneath, with transverse blackish 

 lines. Its distinguishing character consists of four broad, trans- 

 verse, black bands, which succeed each other on the back part 

 of the head. During the summer it inhabits lofty mountains, 

 and descends into the woods in the month of October. It lives 

 either singly or in pairs, particularly in bad weather, and feeds 

 on worms and insects. Few of them remain on the plains during 

 summer. (4) 



Scol. gallinagOy L.; La Becassine, Enl. 883; Frisch, 229; 

 Naum. 3, f. 3. (The Snipe.) Smaller than the preceding, and 

 with a longer beak; is distinguished by two broad, longitudinal 

 black bands on the head, by the neck spotted with brown and 

 fawn colour, by a blackish mantle with two longitudinal fawn 



(1) Phceopus (ash-coloured foot), a name composed by Gesner. 



(2) Add the Num. tenulrostrls, Ch. Bonap.; the Ntim. riifus, Vieill. Gal. 245; 

 the Courtis demi-bec {Num. brevirostris, T. ), Col. 381. 



N.B . In this genus, and almost in the whole of this family, the beak becomes 

 lengthened by age. 



(3) Scolopax, the Greek name of the Woodcock, from a-aoKo-^, stake, on ac- 

 count of its straight and pointed beak. Vieillot has changed it into Rusticoea. 



(4) Add a closely alUed species of North America {Scol. minor, Gm.), Arct. Zool. 

 II, pi. xix; Vieill. Gal. 242; Wils., VI, xlviii, 2; Scol. sabini, Vig., Lin. Trans. 

 XIV, pi. xxi, if a true species. 



(5) Add the Becassine muette of Eur., Scol. Brehmii, Kaup., Isis., 1823; Scol. 

 paludosa, Gm. Enl. 895, which is the Sc. gallinago, Wils. VI, xlvii, 1; Scol.gigan. 

 tea, Tem. Col. 401. 



The Brunette of Buffon, Scol. pusilla. Dunlin of the English, is only the Tringa 

 alpina, Gm. 



Vol. I. 2 Y 



