THE SNIPE. 89 



into yellow and brown towards the tip. The 

 head is dark-brown with a light yellow stripe down 

 the middle, a light stripe over the eye, and a brown 

 line or spots down the side of the neck. The 

 back is shiny black, and the wings dusky ; the 

 scapulars being marked with yellow. The tail-feathers 

 are barred with black, and the coverts of reddish- 

 brown. The front of the neck is yellowish-white with 

 brown marks, the belly is white. The feet are greenish- 

 ash. These birds when flying to a distance rise high 

 in the air, so as to be out of sight, when even their 

 cry can be heard. They are numerous in marshy 

 places in the winter season. They have enemies in 

 the hawks and marsh harrier, but their cunning 

 manner of flight generally enables them to get out of 

 the way in time. They quit the low places when the 

 weather gets mild, migrating to exposed and cold 

 situations. Many come from more northern countries 

 in the winter, while some content themselves with 

 migrations from one part of Britain to another. They 

 are very partial to the boggy districts of Ireland, the 

 Yorkshire Wolds, and Highlands of Scotland. The 

 pairing cry of the male is a peculiar bleating sound, 

 uttered in flight, and sometimes will continue all day, 

 but when he has found his mate he is silent, except 

 in the evening. The peculiar note continues during 

 incubation. The nest is concealed in thick grass, or 

 low growing plants, and is lined with dried fibres or 

 leaves. The eggs are pale green-gray with brown 

 blotches ; the female lays usually four ; the colour is 

 sometimes considerably darker. The downy birds 

 leave the nest as soon as hatched, and soon gain 



