GALLINAGO MEDIA. 



GREAT SNIPE. 



(Plate 13.) 



Scolopaz major, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., i, p. 661 (1788). 



Gallinago major, Sharpe's ed. Layard Birds of S. Afr., p. 678(1875-84) ; 

 Nicolls & Eglington, Sportsman in S. Afr., p. 130 (1892) ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. Birds Brit. Miis., xxiv, p. 626 (1896) ; Woodward, Natal 

 Birds, p. 188 (1899). 



Gallinago media, Reichenow, Vogel Afrikas, i, p. 235 (1900-01) ; 

 Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., iii, p. 361 (1905) ; Sclater & Stark, 

 Birds of S. Afr., iv, p. 414 (1906). 



Double or Solitary Sni^je of some authors. 



Description. The bird figured is a male. The sexes are aUke. 

 Young birds are more rufous than the adults. Length about 

 11 in. Weight 8 oz. (Ayres). 



Distribution. Mr. Sclater writes that the Great Snipe nests in 

 eastern and north-eastern Europe and northern Asia from Germanj^ 

 to the Yenesei, while it is only a casual visitor to the British 

 Islands, and that it passes over South Europe and winters in 

 Africa, where, however, it seems to be confined to the eastern 

 and southern portions of the continent, and has not hitherto 

 been met with in the western tropical districts. 



I HAVE seen the Great Snipe during nearly every month 

 of the year near Potchefstroom, Transvaal, but have rarely 

 seen more than one or two birds during a day's walk. 



They are found on marshes and vleis in exactly the 

 same localities as the Ethiopian Snipe, but they rise in quite 

 a different manner. When the Ethiopian Snipe is flushed 

 it gives vent to the weU-known " scape " of the English 

 bird, but the Great Snipe gets up with a rush, attaining a 



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