COMMON SNIPE. 211 
GREAT SNIPE. 
GALLINAGO MAJoR (J. F. Gmelin). 
The Great Snipe is said to have occurred in Cheshire 
on several occasions; but as large examples of the 
Common Snipe are often mistaken for it, and as no 
evidence of identity is adduced in any instance, some 
of the records must be regarded with caution. 
Byerley reports two occurrences at Upton near 
Birkenhead, and several at Hoylake ;! and two birds are 
said to have been shot near Chester in the winter of 
1857-582 Three others are recorded by Dr. Dobie: one 
shot by the late E. C. Walker on the site of the Chester 
railway station; another by the late Captain Park 
Yates’s keeper at Stanlow Point, Ince; and a third in 
the meadows of the Gowy at Barrowmore, in the winter 
of 1889.2 A Great Snipe, in the collection of Colonel 
Dixon, was shot at Withington about fifty years ago. 
COMMON SNIPE. 
GALLINAGO CELESTIS (Frenzel). 
During the winter months the Common Snipe is 
generally distributed throughout the county, frequent- 
ing pit-sides and damp meadows, often singly or in 
couples, but sometimes in wisps of considerable size. 
In the early spring, however, the majority of these 
1 Byerley, op. cit. p. 19. 
2 Zoologist, ser. I. vol. xvi. p. 5976. 1885.  reld, vol. xi. 
p. 81. 1858. 
3 Dobie, op. cit. p. 336. 
