4 SCOLOPACID^. 



is known to occur among the eggs of the Scolopacidse, from cream colour or light 

 blue to deep brownish ochre and olive green or olive brown. The markings also 

 vary considerably, the eggs sometimes being largely blotched, sometimes minutely 

 freckled, nor is it by any means unusual to meet with specimens having th,e large 

 ends surrounded with long irregular streaks like those upon the eggs of the 

 Yellowharamer ; indeed, on looking over Mr. Hewitson's figures of the eggs of 

 the Scolopacidse, I cannot observe one, with the single exception of the broad- 

 billed Sandpiper, which would not, were the size altered, acciurately represent a 

 variety of the egg of the Common Snipe. Eggs from the same nest nearly always 

 resemble one another in colouring ; and among the thousands which I have seen 

 uniformity in size and shape prevails." 



Mr. Abel Chapman writes * : — " Snipes [breed] at all elevations, on hill or 

 valley. The nest is always well concealed under a tuft of grass or heather ; and 

 the old bird sits close. Snipe are very irregular in their dates of laying; I have 

 found young ones unable to fly on August 12th, and, on the other hand, have 

 known of a nest as early as 19th March, and of young Snipes on the wing in the 

 last week of April." 



Mr. Seebohm says that the eggs of the Common Snipe " vary in length from 

 1'65 to l-f5 inch, and in breadth from 1'15 to 1"05 inch." f 



Mr. H. E. Dresser states that eggs of this species in his collection measure 

 from 1-7 by 1-15 inch to 1-52 by 1-02 inch. $ 



* ' Bird-life of the Borders ' (London : Gurney & Jackson, 1889), p. 30. 



t ' History of British Birds,' vol. iii. p. 244. 



X ' History of the Birds of Eui-ope,' vol. vii. p. G49. 



