GREAT SNIPE. 601 



tion during the time of breeding. It may however be met 

 with during that season, tliough not in great numbers, in the 

 marshy districts lying between Gouda and Gorinchem, and an 

 extensive fenny tract, abounding in peat bogs, in the eastern 

 part of Dutch Brabant. There is another locality bordering 

 upon the Dutch side of the river Meuse, over which they are 

 found scattered during the breeding-season. The Great Snipe 

 resembles the Jack Snipe very much in its habits ; lying 

 close, and, when disturbed, rarely flying far. It begins to 

 breed early in May. The nest is similar to, and placed in the 

 same situation as, that of the common species. The eggs are 

 four in number." These are of a yellow olive-brown, spotted 

 with two shades of reddish brown ; the length one inch nine 

 lines, by one inch and two lines in breadth. 



I do not find any notice of the occurrence of the Great 

 Snipe in Orkney or Shetland, but it is seen in the Danish 

 Islands in the breeding-season. A few breed in Germany, 

 appearing in May, and departing in September; it is also 

 said to be found in Bohemia. It is not very common in 

 Holland ; still more rare in France ; and in Switzerland and 

 Italy this species, according to Messrs. Necker, Schinz, and 

 Savi, is observed in spring and autumn on its passage. The 

 Zoological Society have received specimens, sent by Messrs. 

 Dickson and Ross, from Trebizond, obtained in the month 

 of April, and said to be common in boggy ground ; and M. 

 Menetries found it in the vicinity of Caucasus, where he says 

 it is a bird of passage. 



The beak dark brown at the end, pale yellow brown at 

 the base ; irides dark brown ; from the base of the beak to 

 the eye, a dark brown streak ; over that, over the eye and 

 the ear-coverts, a streak of pale brown ; forehead and top of 

 the head rich dark brown, divided along the middle line 

 from before backwards by a pale brown stripe ; neck all 

 round pale brown, the centre of each feather darker brown ; 



