JACK SNIPE. 23 
The eggs are four in number, and of a yellowish olive colour, 
spotted about the larger end with two shades of brown. 
The apparent difference between this and the larger species, 
is, at first sight, very trifling, in all but size, and the length 
of the bill. Male; weight, about two ounces to two and a 
quarter; length, a little over eight inches to eight and a half; 
bill, greyish dusky; the tip darker, the base pale yellowish red, 
with a bloom of grey; it is about two inches long; from it 
a broad cream-coloured or pale brown streak extends over the 
eye and down the nape, with a narrow darker one along the 
middle line of the hinder part, and as far as the eye is a space 
of pale yellowish brown; iris, dusky dark brown. Head on the 
sides, greyish or brownish white, with the tips of the feathers 
black, giving ita sort of neutral tint; on the crown, rich dark 
blackish brown, the feathers edged with rufous hence! in 
winter changed to grey; it is bordered on each side with a 
yellowish streak, beneath which is a dusky one; neck on the 
back and nape, ferruginous, or greyish brown, varied with dusky 
brown. Chin and throat, white, or greyish, or pale brownish 
white; breast above, pale yellowish brown, tinged with grey, 
and spotted with dusky; below, white, and on the sides dashed 
with greyish black, and tinted with brown; back, rich dark 
blackish brown in waves, with olive bronze and _ purple 
reflections, the feathers narrowly tipped with white, and broadly 
margined with pale dull yellow; in winter it becomes more 
grey. The scapular feathers are long, and with their outer 
webs of a rich cream yellow form two conspicuous bands along 
each side. 
The wings have the first quill the longest. The axillary 
feathers are white, clouded irregularly with blackish greys 
greater and lesser wing coverts, dusky black, the feathers 
narrowly edged with pale brown and white; primaries, dusky 
black; secondaries also dusky black, but the tips pointed with 
white; tertiaries, brownish black; spotted and streaked in 
waves with rich reddish brown, and edged with pale greyish 
white. The tail, of twelve pointed feathers, is dusky greyish 
or brownish black, edged with very pale ferruginous o% rufous; 
it is of a wedge shape; upper tail coverts, brown, edged with 
buff; under tail coverts, white. Legs and toes, dark greenish 
or greyish brown; claws, black. 
The female is larger than the male, and her colours not 
so bright. 
The young birds want the brilliant green and purple 
