362 SCOLOPACIN^E. 



third scrobiculate, and more or less enlarged, with the tips 

 hard and narrowed, hut obtuse, that of the lower shorter. 

 Legs rather short, slender ; tibia bare for nearly a fourth ; 

 tarsus compressed, scutellate before and behind; anterior 

 toes long, slender, free ; claws slender, slightly arched, acute. 

 Wings long, narrow, pointed ; inner secondaries very long. 

 Tail short, of from twelve to twenty-four soft feathers. 



1 . Scolopax major. Great Snipe. Tail of sixteen feathers ; 

 bill twice the length of the head ; three lateral tail-feathers 

 on each side white ; lower parts greyish-white, barred with 

 brown. 



2. Scolopax Gallinago. Common Snipe. Tail rounded, 

 of fourteen feathers ; bill twice the length of the head ; 

 abdomen white ; lower tail-coverts light red, varied with 

 dusky. 



3. Scolopax Sabini. Sabine's Snipe. Tail of fourteen 

 feathers ; bill twice the length of the head ; lower parts dull 

 light red, undulated with dusky. 



4. Scolopax Gallinula. Jack Snipe. Tail pointed, of 

 twelve feathers ; bill about a fourth longer than the head ; 

 sides longitudinally streaked with brown. 



GENUS II. RTJSTICOLA. WOODCOCK. 



Bill about half as long again as the head, straight, slender, 

 compressed, tapering ; both mandibles grooved, and in their 

 terminal half inconspicuously scrobiculate, not enlarged at 

 the end, the tips hard and obtuse, that of the lower shorter. 

 Legs short, rather slender ; tibia entirely feathered ; tarsus 

 roundish, with very broad anterior scutella; middle toe 

 long, lateral short, free ; claws small, slightly arched, acute. 

 Wings rather long, broad, somewhat pointed ; inner secon- 

 daries of moderate length, rounded. Tail short, rounded. 



1. Rusticola sylvestris. Common Woodcock. Above 

 variegated with brownish-black, light red, and pale reddish- 

 yellow ; beneath yellowish-grey, narroAvly barred with dark 

 brown. 



