1>88 BIRDS OF EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA 



Breeds. — British Isles ; Continental Europe from north of Arctic 

 Circle in Scandinavia and Russia south to Pyrenees, N. Italy, 

 Montenegro, and Caucasus ; also in W. Siberia. In winter occurs 

 in British Isles, and throughout S. Europe and N. Africa ; Azores, 

 Madeira, and Canaries ; and S. and tropical Africa and S. Asia. 



G. gallinago faeroeensis (Brehm). Browner above and more 

 rusty red in spring and summer, especially on throat and upper 

 breast ; usually both dark stripes on lower throat absent or 

 indistinct ; edges of scapulars narrower and redder. 



Breeds.— \Q.€i'i\.Xidi and Faroes (in latter islands typical race 

 occurs in autumn). Resident or partly migratory ; has been 

 found in Ireland, Cornwall, St Kilda and Tiree. 



Gallinago media (Latham). Great Snipe. Fr. Grande 

 Becassine ; Ger. Grosse Sumpfschnepfe ; Ital. Croccolone ; Swed. 

 Dubbel Beckasin. 



^ ? Like "gallinago" but tail of i6 feathers, wing coverts 

 white tipped, four outer tail feathers white with slight black 

 markings, underparts more deeply barred. Bill dull flesh at 

 base, darkening towards tip. Legs and feet dull flesh. Larger. 

 Wing 136-147. Tarsus 36-39. Bill 62-68. Young have outer tail 

 feathers tinged rusty and barred black. 



Breeds. — Scandinavia, Lapland, Denmark, N. Germany (few), 

 Russia to Volga and Bessarabia, and across N. Asia to Yenisei. 

 Migrates ; occurs on passage throughout Europe, uncommon in 

 Britain, occasional Madeira and Canaries, scarce in N.W. Africa. 

 Winters in Africa south to Cape Colony and in S.W. Asia. 



LiMNOCRYPTES. 



Like "Gallinago"'; shorter secondaries pointed; syrinx 

 highly specialised (Pycraft). 



Limnocryptes gallinula (L.). Jack Snipe. Fr. Bec- 

 casine sourde ; Ger. Kleine Bekassine ; Ital. Frullino ; Swed. 

 Halfenkel-Beckasin. 



^ 2 Smaller than " gallinago," distinguished by purple and 

 green gloss on upper parts ; tail 12 feathers ; centre of crown 

 blackish and on each side broad brownish yellow stripe. Bill 

 yellowish flesh with black tip. Legs and feet yellowish grey. 

 Wing 108-115. Tarsus 23-25. 1311139-43. 



