206 AVES GRALLATORES. [SCOLOPAX. 



three lines ; from the carpus to the end of the wing five inches four lines : 

 breadth, wings extended, seventeen inches five lines. 



DESCRIPT. Upper parts very similar to those of the last species : 

 crown black, divided by a yellowish white line ; a similar streak from the 

 base of the upper mandible over each eye ; between the bill and the eye 

 a dusky line : back and scapulars velvet-black, with transverse bars of 

 chestnut-brown, and longitudinal streaks of ochre-yellow ; wing-coverts 

 dusky brown, edged with reddish white ; quills black : chin and throat 

 white ; cheeks, neck, and upper part of the breast, mottled with black 

 and pale ferruginous brown; flanks with white and dusky transverse 

 bars ; lower part of the breast, belly and abdomen, pure white without 

 spots : tail of fourteen feathers, black for two-thirds of its length from the 

 base, the remaining portion reddish brown, with black bars, the tip 

 reddish white : bill brown, paler at the base : legs dusky gray, tinged 

 with green. (Egg.) Pale yellowish white ; the larger end spotted with 

 three shades of brown : long. diam. one inch six lines ; trans, diam. one 

 inch one line. 



A common inhabitant of marshes and low meadows throughout the 

 kingdom. Is generally considered as migratory, appearing early in the 

 Autumn and departing in the Spring. In certain districts, however, 

 many remain annually through the breeding season. Nest placed on the 

 ground, concealed amongst rushes and coarse grass. Eggs four or five 

 in number. Food, worms, insects, &c. 



201. S. Gallinula, Linn. (Jack Snipe.) Crown 

 divided longitudinally by a black band reaching to the 

 nape : neck and breast spotted ; belly and abdomen pure 

 white : tail of twelve feathers. 



S. Gallinula, Temm. Man. cTOrn. torn. n. p. 678. Jack Snipe, Mont, 

 Orn. Diet. Selb. Illust. vol. H. p. 125. pi. 23. f. 5. Judcock, Bew. 

 Brit. Birds, vol. n. p. 54. 



DIMENS. Entire length eight inches six lines: length of the bill 

 (from the forehead) one inch eight lines and a half, (from the gape) one 

 inch seven lines ; of the tarsus eleven lines ; of the tail one inch eleven 

 lines ; from the carpus to the end of the wing four inches three lines. 



DESCRIPT. Crown divided by a black band slightly edged with red- 

 dish brown, extending from the forehead to the nape ; beneath this, and 

 parallel with it, are two streaks of yellowish white, separated by another 

 of black ; between the bill and the eye a dusky line ; throat white ; front 

 of the neck, and upper part of the breast, pale yellowish brown tinged 

 with ash, with longitudinal spots of a deeper tint : back and scapulars 

 black, glossed with green and purple reflections; the latter with the 

 outer webs cream-yellow, forming two conspicuous longitudinal bands 

 extending from the shoulders to the tail ; quills dusky : wing-coverts 

 black, edged with pale brown and white : lower part of the breast, belly 

 and abdomen, pure white : tail of twelve feathers, dusky, edged with pale 

 ferruginous brown : bill bluish at the base, black towards the tip : legs 

 greenish gray. (Egg.) Yellowish olive ; the larger end spotted with two 

 shades of brown : long. diam. one inch three lines ; trans, diam. ten 

 lines. 



Found with the last species, but not quite so plentiful. Arrives early 

 in October and departs in March. Very rarely remains with us to breed. 

 Nest said to resemble that of the Common Snipe. Eggs four or five. 

 Food similar. 



