SABINE’S SNIPE. 347 
five specimens of this snipe, gives the following reasons 
(Birds of Middlesex”’) for considering it a distinct 
species, but has evidently overlooked the discovery in 
recent examples of more than twelve tail-feathers. 
“ Firstly,” he says, “in S. sabini there is a total 
absence of white in the plumage, and none of the buff 
coloured markings on the head and back which appear 
in S. gallinago; secondly, the number of tail-feathers 
in S. sabinw is twelve, whereas S. gallinago has fourteen ; 
thirdly, the tarsus in S. sabinii is stouter and about 
an eight of an inch shorter than in S. gallinago; 
fourthly, in S. sabiniw the eye is placed much higher 
in the head, as in S. rusticola; and lastly, if S. 
sabinut were only a variety of S. gallinago, however 
dark in colour the feathers might be, they would at 
all events be of the same shape. But it will be observed 
that in S. gallinago the feathers of the back are lanceo- 
late in form, while in S. sabinii they are more ovate; 
in this respect more resembling S. rusticola.” The 
latter is unquestionably the most important reason yet 
assigned for giving specific rank to this feathered par- ~ 
adox ; but on the other hand, Mr. Alfred Newton, in a 
recent communication on this point, remarks—“ I have 
seen, and more or less fully examined, no fewer than a 
dozen specimens of Sabine’s snipe, and, on one occasion, 
I had the opportunity of comparing five together. I 
am strongly disposed to doubt its specific rank and to 
regard it as being only a melanoid variety of the 
common species. I have good reason for suspecting 
that all the examples I have seen were birds of the 
year, and if so, one fact to which Mr. Harting in his 
‘Birds of Middlesex’ has adverted, is satisfactorily 
explained, for I believe that in the common snipe the 
young of the year have the scapular feathers less pointed 
than the adult. I am, however, unable at present to 
speak positively on this subject, and the question must 
2y¥2 
