204 AVES GRALLATORES. [SCOLOPAX. 



Much less frequent than the last species. Haunts marshes and low 

 pastures, and is not often observed on the sea-coast. Is occasionally known 

 to breed in the fenny districts of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. Lays four 

 eggs. Food, insects and their larvae, worms, &c. 



GEN. 78. SCOLOPAX, Linn. 

 (1. RUSTICOLA, Vieill.) 



197- S. Rusticola^ Linn. (Woodcock.) Plumage, above, 

 variegated with black, gray, and ferruginous ; beneath, yel- 

 lowish white, with transverse undulating bars : occiput 

 barred transversely. 



S. Rusticola, Temm. Man. d"0rn. torn. n. p. 673. Woodcock, Mont. 

 Orn. Diet. $ Supp. Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. n. p. 43. Selb. Illust. 

 vol. n. p. 107. pi. 23. f. 1. 



DIMENS. Entire length thirteen inches nine lines : length of the bill 

 (from the forehead) two inches nine lines, (from the gape) two inches 

 seven lines and a half; of the tarsus one inch four lines and a half; of 

 the middle toe one inch eight lines and a half ; of the tail three inches 

 three lines; from the carpus to the end of the wing seven inches ten 

 lines: breadth, wings extended, twenty-four inches six lines. 



DESCRIPT. Forehead and crown ash-gray, tinged with rufous; from 

 the corner of the bill to the eyes a dusky streak ; occiput with four broad 

 transverse bars of blackish brown ; rest of the upper parts variegated with 

 chestnut-brown, ochre-yellow, and ash-gray, with zigzag lines and large 

 irregular spots of black : throat plain white ; rest of the under parts yel- 

 lowish white, passing into rufous on the breast and fore part of the neck, 

 with transverse undulating bars of dusky brown : quills barred with fer- 

 ruginous and black on their outer webs : tail of twelve feathers, black, 

 the outer webs edged with rufous ; the tips ash-gray above, silvery white 

 beneath: bill flesh-colour, tinged with gray: legs livid. The female is 

 somewhat larger, with the colours more dull. (Egg.) Pale yellowish 

 white ; the larger end blotched and spotted with ash-gray and two shades 

 of reddish yellow brown : long. diam. one inch nine lines ; trans, diam. one 

 inch four lines. 



A winter visitant, appearing regularly about the beginning of October, 

 and departing in February or March. Frequents moist woods, and is of 

 common occurrence in most parts of the kingdom. Occasionally known 

 to breed with us. Nest placed on the ground, in a small hollow. Eggs 

 four in number. Food, insects and worms. 



(2. SCOLOPAX, Vieill.) 



198. S. Sabini, Vig. (Sabine's Snipe.) Whole 

 plumage variegated with black and chestnut ; paler be- 

 neath : tail of twelve feathers. 



S. Sabini, Vigors in Linn. Trans, vol. xiv. p. 556. pi. 21. Jard. 

 and Selb. Orn. vol. i. pi. 27. Sabine's Snipe, Selb. Illust. vol. n. 

 p. 118. pi. 24. f. 1. Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. n. p. 416. 



DIMENS. Entire length nine inches and three-tenths: length of the 

 bill two inches and seven-tenths; of the tarsus one inch three lines: from 

 the carpus to the end of the wing five inches and one-tenth. VIG. 



