316 ■ —BIRDS OF- TTJNISrA " 



and with metallic reflections ; tail black, margined with rufous, the median 

 feathers elongate ; chin and upper throat white ; breast and sides of body 

 greyish-butf ; remainder of the under parts white. 



Iris dark olive-brown ; bill flesh colour, black toward the tip ; feet dull 

 greenish -grey. 



Total length 6'50 inches, wing 4-25, culmen 1-60, tarsus -QO. 



Adult female similar to the male. 



Observations. — This species has only tiuelve tail-feathers, for which 

 reason it has been generically distinguished by some ornithologists under 

 the name of Limnocrijptes. 



Like the preceding species, the Jack-Snipe is to be found in Tunisia 

 throughout the winter, and, though less numerous, is fairly abundant 

 in suitable localities. It is also not uncommon in winter in Algeria 

 and Marocco, but does not appear to be recorded from the south of the 

 Sahara, nor from the Atlantic Islands. 



The summer quarters of the species are far north in Europe and 

 Asia, and the bird seems to be irregularly distributed during the 

 breeding season throughout the Arctic Region from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific. In winter it is to be found throughout a considerable 

 portion of the European and Asiatic Continents and in North Africa. 



Like other Snipe the present species frequents marshes and 

 similar localities, bi;t is more local and capricious in its tastes, and 

 may be abundant in one spot, and entirely wanting in another, which 

 apparently offers the same attractions in the way of food and environ- 

 ment. It is also perhaps more often found on the sea-coast than the 

 Common Snipe. It is less shy than that bird, and lies closer, generally, 

 indeed, getting up at one's feet, and, when rising rarely, if ever, utters 

 any sound. Its flight, though equally twisting, is less rapid than 

 that of the Common Snipe, and not prolonged for any great distance. 

 Its food api^ears to be the same as that of other Snipe. 



A melanic example of the Jack-Snipe, similar in coloration to the 

 so-called Sabine's Snipe, was obtained near Udine, in Italy, in January, 

 1897, and is preserved in Count Arrigoni's collection at Monselice, near 

 Padua (Man. Orn. Ital., p. 627). 



