256 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE COMMON AMERICAN SNIPE. 



SCOLOPAX WILSONI. 

 PLATE XCVIIL FIG. 220. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Scolopax gallinago. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol 6, p. 18, pi. 47, fig. 1. S. brehmii, Kaup, Bonaparte, Obs. 

 S. wilsoni, Temminck. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 330. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 401. 



Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 5, p. 339, pi. 350. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 185. Giraud, Birds 



of Long island, p. 263. 



Characteristics. Tail much rounded, of sixteen feathers, with black subtcrminal bars ; 

 outer feathers half as broad as the middle ones. Brown and reddish 

 above ; buff on the sides of the head and neck ; belly and vent white. 

 Length, 10" 0. 



Description. Bill straight, compressed from the base, depressed towards the tip, where it 

 is enlarged, and 2' 5 long. Second quill longest. Tail much rounded, almost graduated: all 

 the toes cleft to the base. 



Color. Crown dark-colored, mottled with rufous, and an irregular rufous medial line. 

 Lores, and an oblique streak beneath the eyes, black. On the back, the brownish black 

 feathers are edged with cream-color, and minutely barred with reddish brown. Wings plain 

 dusky ; the outer web of the first quill white : outer spurious feather very acute, and mar- 

 gined and tipped with white. Outer tail-feathers dusky white, with four or five brown bars, 

 and tipped (in the male) with pure white ; middle feathers jet black at the base, broadly 

 banded with bright bay, margined with black and tipped with yellowish white beneath. Chin 

 brownish white. Throat and breast buff, spotted with brown and grey. Flanks barred witli 

 grey and brown, Axillary feathers pure white, with numerous angular brown bars. 



Length, lTO- 12" 0. 



The Common Snipe, or English Snipe as it is ignorantly called from its resemblance to the 

 S. gallinago or Common Snipe of Europe, reaches this State about the latter end of April or 

 the beginning of March. It breeds from Virginia northwardly, and ranges between the 28th 

 and 55th parallels. It breeds in this State, particularly in wet swampy places. The Drowned 

 lands, as they are called, of Orange county, are particularly remarkable as a locality for 

 breeding; but this occurs in every part of the State. The eggs are yellowish, with spots 

 and blotches which form a crowded circle round the larger end. Early in the spring, it soars 

 high in the air, making a booming sound difficult to describe. In Kentucky, and the Southern 

 States, it is a resident during the winter. In this State, it remains with us until winter, or 

 until the ground is so much frozen as to deprive them of their usual food. Its flesh is much 

 esteemed. 



