CHARADRIID.E. 



THE COMMON SNIPE. 



Gallinago ccelestis (Frenzel). 



This species still breeds in England and Wales wherever drainage 

 has not abolished the localities suited to its habits, and it is 

 comparatively abundant in the marshes of Suffolk, Norfolk and 

 Lincolnshire, while it is generally distributed on the northern moor- 

 lands, and up to a considerable elevation in Scotland and Ireland. The 

 birds produced in the British Islands are few, however, compared to 

 those which annually visit us in October and November, when many 

 are killed by striking against the lanterns of lighthouses. These 

 migrants, though they frequently shift their ground under the influence 

 of the Aveather, often remain until March. 



The Snipe is said to have occurred in South Greenland, and is 

 fairly abundant as a breeding-species in Iceland, the Faeroes, and 

 throughout northern and temperate Europe down to the marshes of 

 Northern Italy. On passage or as a winter-visitor it is found in the 

 Atlantic Islands, as well as on the African side of the Mediterranean 

 basin ; it ascends the Nile valley to Abyssinia, and reaches Aden ; 

 while on the west side it occurs in Senegambia. In Asia, south of 

 70° N. in Siberia, it breeds down to the lofty table-lands of Yarkand, 

 crosses the great central ranges on migration, and is found in winter 



