368 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



SNIPE, COMMON. 



(Gallinago coelestis^) 

 Order LIMICOL/E ; Family SCOLOPACIM: (SNIPES). 



Description of Parent 

 Birds. Length about ten 

 and a half inches ; beak 

 very long (about two and 

 three-quarter inches), 

 straight, and pale reddish- 

 brown at the base and 

 dusky towards the tip. 

 Irides dark brown. Crown 

 blackish-brown, divided in 

 the centre by a buffish- 



YOUNG COMMON SNIPE. i i -, -,. -, n . 



brown longitudinal line ; 



another line of the same colour commences at the base 

 of the bill and passes over the eyes. A dusky line 

 passes from the base of the beak to the eye ; back 

 and scapulars dark brown, barred with rusty-brown. 

 Four distinct lines of dark brown feathers, bordered 

 with rich buff, run along the upper-parts of the 

 body. Wing-coverts dull black, spotted with pale 

 brown and tipped with white ; quills dull black, 

 some of them edged and others tipped with white ; 

 upper tail-coverts dusky-black, barred with brown ; 

 tail-quills black, barred and spotted with dull 

 orange-red, and tipped with pale reddish-yellow ; 

 chin brownish-grey ; neck and cheeks light brown ; 

 front and sides of neck a mixture of dark and rusty- 

 brown ; breast, belly, and vent white ; under tail- 

 coverts pale brown, barred with dusky-black ; 

 legs and toes greenish-brown, dusky, or leaden 

 colour. 



