BROWN SNIPE. 6S3 



since the beak is in structure, that of a Snipe ; while the 

 liabits, and great seasonal change of plumage, are those of the 

 marine Sandpipers. The English names given to this bird, 

 are not so happily chosen, being of more partial application. 

 It has been called, as the synonyms indicate. Red-breasted 

 Snipe, Brown Snipe, and Grey Snipe ; but the bird is only 

 red during summer, brown in the autumn, and grey in winter. 



The Red-breasted Snipe, as it is called by Wilson on ac- 

 count of the prevailing colour of its summer plumage, " ar- 

 rives on the sea-coast of New Jersey early in April ; it is 

 seldom or never seen inland ; early in May it proceeds to 

 the north to breed, and returns by the latter part of July or 

 beginning of August. During its stay, it flies in flocks, 

 sometimes very high, and has then a loud and shrill whistle, 

 making many evolutions over the marshes ; forming, dividing, 

 and reuniting. They sometimes settle in such numbers, and 

 so close together, that eighty-five have been shot at one dis- 

 charge of a musket. They frequent the sand-bars, and mud- 

 flats at low water in search of food ; and being less suspicious 

 of a boat than of a person on shore, are easily approached by 

 this medium, and shot down in great numbers.'''' 



These birds, Wilson observes, " of all our sea-side Snipes, 

 are the most numerous, and the most delicious for the table. 

 They doubtless breed not far to the northward of the United 

 States, if we may judge from the lateness of the season when 

 they leave us in spring, the large size of the eggs in the ova- 

 ries of the females before they depart, and the short period of 

 time they are absent.'''' This hiatus in their history has been 

 supplied by Dr. Richardson in his Fauna of North America, 

 Avho says, " they are well known in the fur-countries, and 

 have an extensive breeding range from the borders of Lake 

 Superior to the Arctic Sea.'''' 



In the summer or breeding plumage, the beak is reddish 

 brown, darker at the point than at the base ; the irides red- 



