COMMON SNIPE. 183 



and beautifully varied appearance. Beneath, the 

 chin is white or yellowish- white ; the throat and 

 breast dark wood-brown, the feathers of a deeper tint 

 in the centre, the colours shading into pure white 

 on the lower part of the breast, belly, and vent. 

 The tail contains fourteen feathers, the two in the 

 centre black, tipped with reddish-orange for the 

 length of half an inch ; this pale tint is sometimes 

 jnottled with black, and is crossed near the tip with 

 a narrow dark bar ; the other feathers to the ex- 

 terior, are greyish-black, the reddish-orange extend- 

 ing further down, varied and clouded with the dark 

 ground colour of the feathers ; the outer feather is 

 white at the tip, and on the outer web. When 

 running, the Snipe jerks with its tail, spreading 

 and expanding it like a fan, and often placing it in 

 a lateral position ; the shafts of the feathers bend 

 inwards, that of the outer having a distinct angular 

 curve. 



