n o COMMON BRITISH BIRDS 



SNIPE. (R. and W.M. Plovers and Snipes.) 



Size. Blackbird. Has long bill. 



Colour. Above blackish streaked with sandy-brown. 

 Throat and chest brown, with black spots and bars. 

 Breast and under parts white, sides barred with blackish. 



Note. The note that is usually heard is a cry of 

 alarm ' scape, scape/ uttered when the snipe flies up 

 in front of you off some wet patch of land or the side 

 of a stream. It also makes a drumming sound in the 

 spring, which is heard only when the bird is flying, and 

 is believed to be caused by the vibration of the tail- 

 feathers. 



Distinguishing Feature. The ' scape, scape," and 

 the twisting flight as the bird flies up. Long bill. 



Nest. In tufts of reeds, &c. 



Eggs. Pale olive-brown, spotted and blotched with 

 reddish-brown, black, and purplish-grey. 



Haunts. Marshy places. 



There is a small Snipe called the Jacksnipe, which is 

 about the ' Large Sparrow ' size, and appears only in 

 the autumn and winter. It is seen in the same haunt? 

 as the common Snipe, and has the same habits, only 

 it generally flies up without calling out ' scape, scape.' 



SPARROW, HEDGE. (R. Accentors.) 



Size. Sparrow. 



Colour. Warm brown, with black streaks on back 

 and on sides of body. Head and under parts more 

 greyish-brown than the back and wings. 



Note. Rather a pleasing though simple song, short, 

 heard early in the spring. Not unlike that of the Jenny 

 Wren, only weaker. A plaintive call-note ' weet.' 



Distinguishing Feature. Can be distinguished from 

 the female House Sparrow by the more delicate shape, 

 slender bill, and different carriage. The differences in 

 the plumage, too, are easily seen when looked for. 



Nest. Neatly made of moss, wool, &c., lined hair. 



Eggs. Greenish-blue. 



Haunts. Every garden and hedge. 



