88 



LAKES AND RIVERS. 



the same colour ; in a third the ground is cream-colour 

 with purplish-ash, intermixed with spots of pale yellow 

 ochre. The eggs are from if finches, to i -^finches 

 long, by ifi inches broad. In one case an egg was 

 found almost without dark spots. 



COMMON SNIPE. 



The Snipe (Scolopax gallinagd) is, including the 

 bill, about 12 inches long, and the expanse of wing 

 is about 14 inches ; the weight of the bird about 

 four ounces. The colour of the bill changes much 

 after death, losing its smoothness and becoming of a 

 dull colour, whereas in life the base is red, shading 



