SNIPE AND SNIPE-LIKE BIRDS. 



COMMON SNIPE. — Plate 112. 10| inches. 



Crown of head barred lengthwise alternately buff 

 and black, the outer buff stripes forming the eye- 

 brows ; sides of head whitish ; chin white ; upper 

 parts mottled with black, rufous, and buff"; neck 

 and breast streaked brown ; remaining under parts 

 white, barred brown on the flanks ; bill equal to a 

 quarter of the entire length of the bird, straight, 

 brown ; legs olive-green. Resident. 



Eggs. — Usually 4, greenish-white, spotted, blotched, 

 and densely zoned with red-brown, purple-brown, and 

 dark brown, having underlying markings of gray ; 

 1-6 X 1-1 inch (plate 133). 



Nest. — A depression among grass, heather, or 

 rushes, with the usual scanty lining of bits of dead 

 vegetation. 



The Common Snipe breeds in marshy spots through- 

 out the United Kingdom, and a crreat number of 

 migrants arrive in the autumn. Spring is the 

 only time when the Snipe voluntarily shows himself, 

 careering round on high in great circles, from which 

 at times he breaks aside tangentially, and during a 

 short descent produces a quavering monotone syn- 

 chronising with the quivering of the wings, and 

 resembling the bleating of a distant goat. This may 

 be heard at any time of day, but especially in the 

 twilight. At other times the Common Snipe skulks, 



