THE GREAT SNIPE. 443 



Tlie Woodcock is found in all countries of the Eastern 

 Hemisphere where trees grow ; but it has not been ob- 

 served in America. 



THE GREAT SNIPE. 



SCOLOPAX MAJOR, 



Crown black, divided longitudinally by a yellowish white band ; a streak of the 

 same colour over each eye ; from the beak to the eye a streak of dark brown ; 

 upper plumage mottled with black and chestnut-brown, some of tlie feathers 

 edged with straw-colour; greater wing-coverts tipped with white; under 

 parts whitish, spotted and barred with black ; tail of sixteen feathers ; bill 

 brown, flesh-coloured at the base. Length twelve and a half inches. Eggs 

 brownish olive, spotted with reddish brown. 



The Great Snipe, Solitary Snipe or Double Snipe, is inter- 

 mediate in size between the Woodcock and Common Snipe. 

 Though not among the rarest of our visitants, it is far from 

 common, and is seen most frequently in the eastern counties 

 in the autumn. Its principal resorts are low damp meadows 

 and grassy places near marshes, but it does not frequent 

 swamps like its congeners. This difference in its haunts 

 implies a different diet, and this bird, it is stated, feeds 

 principally on the larvae or grubs of Tipulae (known by 

 the common name of Father Long-legs), which are in 

 summer such voracious feeders on the roots of grass. It 

 breeds in the northern countries of Euroj)e, and in some 

 parts of Sweden is so abundant that as many as fifty have 

 been shot in a day. When disturbed on its feeding-ground, 

 it rises without uttering any note, and usually drops in 

 again, at no great distance, after the manner of the Jack 

 Snipe. It may be distinguished by its larger size, and by 

 carrying its tail spread like a fan. In the northern countries 

 where it breeds it is found most commonly in the meadows 

 after hay-harvest, and as it is much prized for the delicacy 

 of its flesh it is a favourite object of sport. It is remark- 

 able for being always in exceedingly good condition, a re- 

 mark which applies to specimens procured in this country 



