THE SNIPES. 



The Snipes, which include the Wood- 

 Cocks, the True Snipes and the Painted 

 Snipes, form a small section of the large 

 group of Waders {Limicolce). In addition 

 to the characters assigned to them at 

 the beginning of this volume, they may 

 be recognised by their peculiar plumage, 

 which is chiefly composed of black, buff 

 and rufous. The Snipes in general are 

 remarkable for their abundance, the sport 

 they afford, and the excellence of their 

 flesh for the table. 



In the Wood-Cocks and True Snipes 

 the sexes are alike ; in the Painted Snipes 

 the sexes differ in colour. Many of the 

 Snipes have tails of peculiar construction, 

 the outer feathers being frequently very 

 narrow and pin-like. Snipes have but 

 one moult a year, and they undergo no 

 seasonal change of plumage. They vary 

 individually in proportion to the degree 

 in which the margins of the feathers get 

 worn down. The eyes of the Snipes are 

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