448 SCOLOPACID^. 



pggs, and if disturbed while in charge of her yet unfledged 

 brood, endeavours to distract the attention of an intruder 

 from them to herself by the artifice already described as 

 being employed by others of the Waders. 



" Sabine's Snipe," which was at one time thought to be 

 a distinct species, is now considered a dark variety of the 

 Common Snipe, recent examination of specimens having 

 proved that its tail contains fourteen feathers and not 

 twelve only, as was supposed. 



THE JACK SNIPE. 



SCOLOPAX GALLINULA. 



Crown divided longitudinally by a black band edged with reddish brown : 

 beneath this on either side a parallel yellowish band reaching from tlie 

 bill to the nape ; back beautifully mottled with buff, reddish brown, and 

 black, the latter lustrous with gi'een and purple ; neck and breast sx)otted ; 

 belly and abdomen pure white ; tail of twelve feathers, dusky edged with 

 reddish grey; bill dusky, lighter towards the base. Length eight and a half 

 inches. Eggs yellowish olive, spotted with brown. 



As the Great Snipe has been called the Double Snipe, 

 on account of its being superior in size to the common 

 species, so the subject of the present chapter is kno\vn 

 as the Half Snipe, from being contrasted with the same 

 bird, and being considerably smaller. The jDresent 

 species is far less abundant than the Common Snipe ; 

 yet still it is often seen, more frequently, perhaps, than 

 the other, by non-sporting observers, for it frequents 

 not only downright marshes, but the httle streams which 

 meander through meadows, the sides of grassy jDonds, and 

 the drains by the side of canals, where the ordinary pe- 

 destrian, if accompanied by a dog, ^\^.ll be very likely to 

 put one up. Its food and general habits are much the 

 same as those of the Common Snipe ; but it rises and 

 flies off without any note. Its flight is singularly crooked 

 until it has made up its mind which direction it intends 



