CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 151 



The case is copied from a sketch taken in the Tar- 

 logie Woods, near Tain, in Koss-shire, at which place 

 the female and eggs were obtained in June, 1 869. 



WOODCOCK.— (Winter.) 



Case 188. 



As will be readily seen by the specimens in the pre- 

 sent case, the plumage of the Woodcock in winter is 

 considerably darker than in summer. 



The birds were shot in Glenlyon, in Perthshire, in 

 November, 1875. 



SNIPE.— (Winter.) 



Case 189. 



While punt-gunning one winter on a river in the 

 north of Scotland during severe frost, I noticed that 

 Snipes were collected in numbers along the banks where 

 the mud was kept soft by the action of the tide. As a 

 novel proceeding I tried one shot at them with the big 

 gun, but the poor birds were so tame that it could 

 hardly be considered sport, and fowl being plentiful on 

 the water at the time, I left them alone, in hopes of 

 renev/ing the acquaintance on some future day. I, 

 however, discovered when the weather changed that 

 I had lost my chance, as after the breaking up of the 

 frost not a snipe could be found within a mile of the 

 spot. 



I shall not readily forget a rather amusing incident 

 that occurred that evening. 



I was stopping at a first-rate hotel, which, as is 



