BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



351 



of fourteen feathers ; irides, hazel ; bill, light brown, darker 

 at tip; legs and feet, brownish. Length, between ten 

 and eleven inches. The female is similar to the male in 

 colouration. The young show more uniformity in coloura- 

 tion of the upper parts. 



3ach Snipe. 



The Jack Snipe {Scolopax gallinula^ Linnceus) is a com- 

 mon autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, 

 and inhabits the Northern Palearctic Region. The adult 

 in colouration of plumage is very similar to the common 

 snipe, but it is smaller in size, and has only twelve feathers 

 in the tail. Hence it is easily distinguishable from Scolopax 

 galUnago. Length, about eight inches. The adults of both 

 sexes are alike in colouration. 



