GREAT SNIPE. 299 
SCOLOPAX MAJOR, Gmelin. 
GREAT SNIPE. 
The solitary or “double ” snipe, as it is provincially 
termed, is a regular autumnal visitant, though for the 
most part in small numbers, and appears with the 
earliest flights of the common species in August and 
September. From my own notes for the last twenty 
years, I find the 17th of August and the 14th of October 
the earliest and latest dates of its occurrence in Norfolk; 
and in no instance have I heard of its being killed here 
during the winter months. Another peculiarity also 
of this bird is the fact that it is scarcely ever known to 
visit us in spring, when the common snipe again makes 
its appearance, in considerable numbers, on its north- 
ward passage. Writing of this species, Mr. Lubbock 
remarks “they are never to be found in March, the 
usual period of the snipe’s vernal migration,” nor do 
I now know of more than one or two authentic 
instances, and those, no doubt, stragglers driven acci- 
dentally to the westward of their usual migratory 
course.* An adult bird in the collection of Mr. Alfred 
Master, of this city, was killed a few years back on 
Yarmouth beach in the spring, under the following 
curious circumstances. It was observed by a fisherman 
who was putting off to sea in his boat, flying low over 
the waves and making direct for the shore, where it 
alighted on the beach. Having a gun with him he went 
at once in pursuit of it, and from him it was purchased 
in the flesh by my informant Mr. 8. Bligh. It must 
* Mr. Selby describes the “direction of their latitudinal flight 
as much to the east of the longitude of the British Islands,” 
but though in England they are apparently most frequent in the 
Eastern Counties, yet according to Thompson they also occur 
occasionally in Ireland. 
292 
