SCOL OP A CID.'E-SNIPES. 243 



Great Snipe : GalUnago inajoi'. Locally " Double Snipe." 

 An uncommon visitor to Britain. It has been met with fairly 

 often in Essex as a passing migrant in the autumn, but appears to be 

 very rarely seen in spring. 



"Several were shot on the Suffolk and Essex coasts during the autumn of 1836 

 (Hoy — 18. i. 117). Mr. Clarke records (24) one obtained near Walden about 

 1825, and another at Newport in 1853. Dr. Bree records one (29. Sept. 6 and 20) 

 found dying near Lexden in Aug., 1879. Mrs. Bree still has it. He also says (29) : 



" Mr. Ambrose, bird-stuffer of this town, has shown me two fine specimens, 

 sent to him for preservation, and shot one on either side of the River Colne as it 

 flows into the sea at St. Osyth and Brightlingsea, in November last [1880]. 

 These birds weighed respectively 8^ and 9J oz. The bird which weighed least 

 was the finer specimen of the two. * * ,* With one bird in my own Collection, this 

 makes three that have been taken in this neighbourhood during the past year." 



Mr. Laver (41. i. 189) saw one at a game-dealer's in Colchester on Sept. 7th, 

 1887. It was in good condition, and had been killed by flying against the tele- 

 graph wires. It was afterwards purchased bj'^ Mr. Pettitt. Mr. E. A. Fitch 

 informs me of one in the possession of, and shot by, Mr. F, Cocks on Tiptree 

 Heath. It weighed lof oz. Mr. Hope writes that there are always one or two 

 about every year. Two were shot at Brentwood in Nov., 1888. Mr. Pettitt 

 has preserved specimens shot respectively at Takeley about 1884 ; at Paglesham 

 about Dec. 30th, 1888 (weight 6g oz.) ; at Langham about the end of August 

 1889 ; and at Tollesbury on the Old Hall Marshes by Dr. Salter on Sept. 13th, 

 1889, the latter a particularly fine bird, weighing 7f oz. and measuring 12 inches 

 in length. 



Common Snipe : GalUnago ccelestis. Locally, " Whole Snipe " 

 and "Full Snipe." 



A common winter visitor, especially during a sharp frost or floods, 

 when single individuals may be found beside small streams and run- 

 ning ditches in most, if not all, parts of the county. It used to be a 

 common resident, but it is now more scarce than formerly, though it 

 still breeds in various places on our coast, and probably in Epping 

 Forest. 



In 1880, large numbers, which remained only a few hours, were observed to 

 arrive on the Essex coast from Oct. 29th to Nov. ist (42). In 1881, a pair was 

 seen in the Osier-ground at Broomfield as late as April 7th, but they did not 

 stay to breed. Three were also seen near here as early as Sept. loth. Some 

 remarks by " a Londoner " (28. i. 43) imply that in 185 1 it still bred not uncom- 

 monly in Hainault Forest, and it seems not improbable that they bred in the 

 Forest as lately as 1878, for " Ranger " says (29. July 13) : " For some time past 

 we have had about six couples of Snipe feeding on the swamps in the Forest in this 

 neijjhbourhoo'd. » * * In many years' experience, I never knew them here so 

 early." The Rev. J. C. Atkinson cannot recollect ever having found its nest 

 in Essex, but it breeds round Harwich (Kerry), and at Paglesham Mr. J. F. T. 

 Wiseman has known it nest occasionally. Mr. Hope also remarks that it " breeds 

 on the marshes and passes on. Fresh birds take their place about the end of 

 September. On the first signs of frost they go up-country to the springs." In 

 1889, Dr. Salter says nests were found on the Tollesbury Marshes, where it is 

 becoming commoner as a breeding bird. 



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