JACK SNIPE. 383 



Scotland and England it lias only, in a very few instances, 

 been known to breed. 



It is considered a lazy bird, as it seldom rises until one is 

 close upon it ; but this is scarcely an indication of sluggish- 

 ness, and may rather be attributed to a desire of concealing 

 itself in the apprehension of danger. On being raised or 

 flushed, as the sportsmen say, it flies off" low, in a slightly 

 zigzag manner, and without emitting any cry, until about 

 seventy or eighty yards distant, when it ascends, generally 

 proceeds but a short way, and comes down with rapidity in 

 the first suitable place that occurs. 



As to its distribution on the continent, it will suffice to 

 state that, according to various authorities, it extends from 

 Norway to the south of Europe, and has been found in some 

 parts of Asia. Its habits in the breeding season are not 

 described. Mr. Yarrell states that " the egg is of a yellowish- 

 olive, the larger end spotted with two shades of brown ; the 

 length of the egg one inch three lines, by ten lines in 

 breadth." 



Young. — The young in winter differ from the old birds 

 only in having much less glossy purple and green on the 

 back. 



Remarks. — Independently of colour and size, this species 

 is easily distinguished from any other by its cuneate tail and 

 acuminate secondary quills. M. Temminck and some others 

 assert that it occurs in North America ; but this statement is 

 erroneous. 



