74 THE SNIPE 



parents and to seek food for themselves immediately after hatching 

 out. 



The WOODCOCK (Scolopaxrusticola), Fig. 121, belonging to the sub- 

 family of Scolopacinae or Snipes, is about 14 in. long, and weighs 

 from 13 to 15 oz. It is of a brown colour of various shades, darkest 

 on the back, the tail black, tipped with grey above. The Wcod- 

 cock arrives in England in October, and leaves again in March or 

 April. It frequents woods and thickets where there are water- 

 courses, visiting swamps in order to find the w r orms and larvae of 

 insects, which it obtains by thrusting the bill into the earth. 



The SNIPE (Gallinago ccelestis), included in the sub-family 

 Scolopacinae, is to some extent migratory, being found in Britain 

 chiefly in winter. It inhabits marshy districts and fens, and is 

 found generally throughout Britain by small streams and even 

 ditches in both hilly districts or moorlands and in flat localities. 

 The average length of the bird is about 10 in. The general 

 colour is shades of brown, variously streaked and marked, the 

 under-parts being white. It nests in Britain, though not very 

 commonly, the nest being formed of leaves on the ground and under 

 a tuft of grass or small furze bush. The eggs, numbering four, 

 are olive-white, spotted with brown. The food consists of worms, 

 snails, woodlice, and insects, chiefly in larval state. When pursued 

 the Snipe usually takes flight in a zigzag fashion, and thus renders 

 it difficult to take a steady aim. 



The GREAT SNIPE (Gallinago major) may occasionally be met with 

 on swampy places and heaths, and the Jack Snipe (Gallinago galli- 

 nula) is chiefly found in Britain in winter, and is generally seen by 

 small streams or ditches. The length of the Great Snipe is about 

 12 in., and it feeds chiefly on insect larvae of various kinds. 



The RUFF (Philomachas pugnax) belongs to the sub-family 

 Tringinae or Sandpipers, and is noted for the "setting" of neck 

 feathers in the male, specially developed at the breeding season. 

 This, called " ruff," is not developed until the second year of the 

 male's life. The females are termed " reeves," at the sight of which 

 the males, polygamous and outnumbering the females, fight des- 

 perately for the possession of their mates during the breeding 

 season. The Ruffs are birds of passage, and less frequent in 

 the fen districts than formerly. Taken in large nets and fattened, 

 they are dressed for the table like woodcocks, without withdrawing 

 the intestines or their contents, which are considered by con- 

 noisseurs as affording the most delicate kind of seasoning for these 

 birds. 



PARTLY USEFUL AND PARTLY INJURIOUS 



The HOBBY (Falco or Hypotriorchis subbuteo), a member of the 

 Falconidae (or Acciptrinae) , is a summer visitant to this country, 

 arriving in April. It haunts the cultivated parts of England, and 



