64 THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 



COMMON SNIPE. 

 Gallinago ccelestis (Frenzel). 



The shooting of the Common Snipe, as proof of a 

 sportman's skill is not practised here so often as could 

 be wished. About half a dozen shots in a day is the 

 most our dry marshes will afford ; they come and go, 

 as every sportsman knows, here to-day and gone to- 

 morrow, and often does it occur that when most 

 expected they are never seen at all. 



JACK SNIPE. 

 Gallinago gallinula (Linn.). 



Our Rainham marsh usually contains in the winter 

 season two or three Jack Snipes ; they come, as a 

 rule, the latter end of November. I once shot a 

 " Jack " at the beginning of April in the plumage of 

 glossy green. 



CURLEW SANDPIPER. 

 Tringa subarquata (Guldenstadt). 



The Curlew Sandpipers come the beginning of 

 September. They frequent the shores of our creeks 

 in small numbers as a species, and are very tame. 

 Once, while rowing a boat, a pair came and settled 

 some five yards off me. They sometimes occur in 

 the half changed plumage from summer to winter ; 

 their stay is about a month. 



