146 THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



This scarcity of course refers to the later years 

 of the eighteenth century. 



Genus GALLINAGO. 



G. Major. Great Snipe. 



The Great or SoHtary Snipe is a rare casual 

 visitant in September, but has been obtained only 

 in a few instances in the north and west of the 

 county, the " Great Snipe" of sportsmen being 

 generally large specimens of the Common Snipe. 



The late Mr. W. Dickinson records an example, 

 shot near Sylecroft, in the autumn of 1861, which 

 weighed 10 ozs. ; a second, shot on Troutbeck 

 moss ; and three others shot in different years 

 near Workingfton. 



Mr, T. C. Heysham records a Great Snipe killed 

 near Bewcastle, in September, 1831, and a second 

 shot at Dalston in the same month and year. 



Another was obtained near Carlisle in 1881, and 

 is preserved in Mr. G. Coulthard's possession. No 

 doubt others have occurred, but the species is a rare 

 visitant, and misconceptions are frequent. 



G. Ccelestis. Common Snipe. 



The Common Snipe is a numerous resident, and 

 its bleating in the breeding season may often be 

 heard on our mosses. 



Mr. Heysham secured a specimen, with white 

 primaries, in October, 1832, and a much-pied Snipe 

 haunted the drains of Cardew Mire in the autumn 

 of 1884. 



