178 GREAT SNIPE. 



flying far. The cry is described as different from 

 that of the Common Snipe. 



THE GREAT SNIPE, SCOLOPAX MAJOR. Scolopan 

 major ) Gmel. Grande ou Double Becassme, Temm. 

 Great Double or Solitary Snipe of British authors. 

 This species occurs, as a straggling bird of pas- 

 sage, chiefly in the south of our island, where, in 

 some seasons, its occurrence is pretty frequent ; but, 

 as we reach the borders of Scotland, and proceed 

 northward and westward, or into Ireland, it becomes 

 more rare in its appearance. In Continental Europe 

 it is also migratory ; appears to be most common 

 and to breed in Norway and Sweden, occurring in 

 Central Europe only at uncertain periods, but also 

 incubating in scattered localities in Holland. Spe- 

 cimens were sent from Trebizond to the Zoological 

 Society, by Messrs. Dickson and Ross, but its extra 

 European range is not ascertained; some of those 

 foreign specimens, which were considered identical 

 (that from America for instance), being found to be 

 distinct. 



It is remarkable, that in Britain the specimens of 

 the Great Snipe have been almost all met with ia 

 autumn, comparatively few being found in the spring, 

 or on their return northward. When found, it is ge- 

 nerally alone, or in pairs, which has gained for it the 

 appellation of " Solitary Snipe," and it is said to be 

 not shy in approach. It is at once distinguished by 

 its heavier flight, and by its out-spread tail. 



