177 



SCOLOPAX SABINII. SABINE'S SNIPE, Vigors.*- 

 We have introduced this Snipe after the woodcock, 

 in consequence of the intermediate form and colour 

 it possesses between the true woodcocks (Rusticola 

 of some authors) and the Snipe. The upper parts 

 are nearly of a dusky-brown, varied by narrow bands 

 of pale yellowish-brown. The under parts are also 

 rufous dusky-brown, alternately barred with pale 

 yellow-brown. The tail, containing twelve feathers, 

 has the basal half black, the terminal half chestnut- 

 brown, barred with black or blackish-brown. Tibiae 

 plumed entirely to the knees. The entire length of 

 the bird is from ten to twelve inches, of which the 

 bill will measure from two to three. 



This interesting bird was described by N. A. 

 Vigors, Esq., in the fourteenth volume of the Lin- 

 nasan Transactions, from a specimen shot in Queen's 

 County, Ireland, on the 22d of August 1822. A 

 second Irish specimen was afterwards procured and 

 exhibited to the Zoological Society, by Mr. Thomp- 

 son; and three other specimens have since been 

 killed in England, the last near Morpeth, in Nor- 

 thumberland, which is the most northern range 

 ascertained for the species. "We are not aware, with 

 certainty, of any extra European locality. 



Of the habits of the Sabine Snipe we know little. 

 That exhibited by Mr. Thompson was not procured 

 until after the third shot, and showed no shyness or 

 timidity, alighting, after being fired at, without 



* Linnaean Trans, vol. xiv. Illust. of Ornith. pi. xxvii. 



M 



