SCOLOPACIDE. 405 
parts were a uniform cream-colour or buff; the 
dark marks were distinct, especially those on the 
head, but not nearly so dark as in the ordinary 
plumage. Yarrell describes one, every feather of 
which was of a pure delicate untinted white; the 
bill and legs pale wood-brown. <A curious variety is 
also described in the ‘Zoologist’ for 1868, the 
whole of the upper parts of the plumage suffused 
with a pale ash-grey tinge, the bars and markings 
being of a very pale rufous hue, and the broad trans- 
verse bars on the crown of the head of a pale 
brownish grey; the under surface of the plumage 
white, the usual transyerse bars being of the faintest 
water-markings, indeed scarcely distinguishable ; 
iris the same colour as ordinary ; bill and legs some- 
what paler. 
“The eggs are of a pale yellowish white, the 
larger end blotched and spotted with ash-grey and 
two shades of reddish yellow-brown.” * 
Great Snire, Scolopax major. The Great Snipe, 
or, aS it is perhaps more commonly called, the 
“ Solitary Snipe,” is by no means a common species 
in our county, but only occurs from time to time, 
generally in the autumn: I have no doubt, however, 
that the occurrences are more numerous than is 
generally supposed, as probably, in the greater 
number of instances in which this bird has been 
* Yarrell, vol. ii., p. 13. 
