702 THE COiAIMON SNIPE. 



exhibiting- botli lifjlit and darkness. . . . Descending from on wing, tliey all swept down 

 in the same direction and covered an extent of bank in such a manner as to remind one 

 of grain thrown from the hands of the sower. Every bird on alighting moved at the 

 same moderate pace, between walking and running, about equidistant from each otlier ; 

 and their heads being all similarly elevated, they had a most formal and singular 

 appearance. 



A friend being out shooting early in the morning saw a flock of several thousands. 

 He described their appearance as the sun rose to have been one of the most beautiful 

 sights he ever witnessed. The great body first appeared glancing in the sun, then it broke 

 up into a dozen flocks, which rose and fell in the air like molten .silver, or, as his companion 

 observed, like showers of new shillings — a most apt image. One of the finest effects is 

 when the background is so dark that the birds are only seen in silvery whiteness, flashing 

 their under plumage upon us. The uncertainty as to when they may next appear, like 

 that of lightning from an extensive mass of thunder-cloud, adds much to the effect." 



The Dunlin is a very loquacious bird, and the noise made by one of these vast flocks 

 is very great. The bird is able to swim on occasions, and when wounded will make its 

 way through the water with ease. 



In the summer, the adult bird has the top of the head black mottled with a rusty hue, 

 the neck greyish white with black .streaks, and the back black with reddish edges to each 

 feather. The primai'ies are dull black with white shafts, and the secondaries are of a 

 similar black, but edged with white. The upper tail-coverts are mottled with black, rusty 

 red and ash colour, and the tail is ashen grey except the two central feathers, M'hich are 

 rather long and of a dark brown with light edges. The breast is black mottled with 

 white, and the imder tail-coverts are wholly whiter 



In the winter the upper part of the body, together with the head and neck, is uniform 

 ashen grey, the centre of each feather being rather darker than the edge. The wings 

 retain tiieir summer tinting, and the breast and under parts are white. In this state this 

 bird is called the Purre. The average length of tlie Dunlin is about eight inches, the 

 females being rather larger than the males. 



The accompanying illustrations represent three examples of British Snipes. 



The Great Snipe is rather a rare bird in England, but may occasionally be seen in 

 favourable localities, where even on the wing it may be distinguished from the common 

 species by the j^eculiar fan-like shape of the tail. While flying it hardly looks larger 

 than the comnron Snipe. It is not rearlily roused from the ground, but will permit itself 

 to be almost trodden on before it will rise, trusting to its brown mottled plumage, which 

 harmonizes so well with the ground that the bird is not readily perceived. When flushed 

 it only flies to a little distance and then settles among heather or rank grass. The flesh 

 of this species is very good, as the bird becomes exceedingly fat when it finds a good 

 feeding-place, so much so indeed that it can hardly fly, and according to Mr. Grieff is in 

 autumn so fat that it almost bursts its skin. 



Tlie nest of the Great Snipe is merel}^ a small (|uantity of grass and leaves scraped 

 into a hollow and containing four olive-brown eggs spotted with reddish brown. The food 

 of this bird appears to consist chiefly of the larvaj or grubs of the common " daddy 

 louglegs," a fly wliich does infinite harm to pasture-land, the grubs destroying the turf as 

 effectually as those of the cockchaffer. As is the case with all the species, the Great 

 Snipe haunts watery places and heaths. 



The plumage of the Great Snipe is not unlike that of the common Snipe, presently to 

 be described, but the bird may be distinguished by the pale hue of the cheeks, the deeper 

 mottling of the breast and flanks, and the conspicuous straight dark line which is drawn 

 like a continuation of the bill from the base of the beak to the eye. The length of the 

 Great Snipe is about one foot. 



The Common Snipe is too well known to need much description. Its habits, how- 

 ever, are interesting and deserve some notice. 



This bird may be seen all over England wherever damp and swampy places are founel. 

 When first flushed it shoots off in a straight line for a few yards and then begins to twist 



