22 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



fSNIPKS. 



the Red Godwit of Latham ; DunkclfuMieer Was- 

 wrlaufer of Meyer ; Hoatoi; of the ancient Welsh. 



Tlie godwit (with other allied species) undergoes a 

 double moult, which nearly changes the entire 

 colour of the plumage, and has led to some con- 

 tusion ; the young of the year differ from the 

 adults. In it* winter plumage this bird is the 

 Limosa melanura of Lesler, and the Jadrcka Snipe 

 of Latham. In its spring uluniage it is the Scolopax 

 Belgica and S. »gocepliala of Gnielin. The young 

 of the year is the Totanus rufns of Bechstein. The 

 female exceeds the male in size, but her colours are 

 lev bright. 



The black-tailed godwit breeds in the high 

 northen latitmles, but occasionally within the limits 

 of the British Islands ; during the winter it is spread 

 along the shores of the whole of Europe, and speci- 

 mens have been received both from India and Africa. 

 In England the present species is not very abundant 

 at any period, though it breeds sparingly in some of 

 our fens. During the winter it frequents oozy shores 

 and the embouchures of rivers, and plunges its long 

 sensitive bill into the mud m search of food, viz., 

 marine insects and worms, &c. The nest is formed 

 of dry grass and herbage, and the four eggs are of 

 a lii;lit olive brown, dashed with a darker tint. Its 

 flesh was formeriy in high esteem. Winter plum- 

 age : — upper parts uniform brown ash, the shaft 

 of each feather being of a darker tint ; rump 

 blackish ; front of neck, the breast, and sides, 

 bright grey ; under parts and base of tail-feathers, 

 and also of the quill -feathers, pure white ; a broad 

 belt of black across the tail-feathers of which the 

 central are slightly tipped with white ; bill orange- 

 yellow at the base, black at the tip. 



Spring Plumage : — Feathers of the top of the head 

 blacK, bordered with bright red; throat and neck 

 red, transversely striped with fine zigzag markings; 

 upper part of the back and scapulars deep black, 

 terminated with a band of red and bordered by spots 

 of that colour ; wing-coverts ash ; lower part of the 

 back and tail black ; under parts and base of quill- 

 feathers white. Length fifteen inches. In the 

 young the plumage of the upper parts is brown and 

 blackish brown, greatly varied with red. 



1848, b. — The Common or Red Godwit 



{Litnosa Tufa, Brisson) is closely allied to the pre- 

 ceding, which it resembles in habits and manners, 

 and extent of range, but may be distinguished 

 by shorter legs, by the absence of white on the 

 basal part of the quill-feathers, and by the tail- 

 feathers being always distinctly barred. It is not 

 known to breed in our island : its summer haunts 

 are Iceland, Lapland, Sweden, and other northern 

 countries. Both species fly very rapidly, and utter 

 a singular cry while on the wing. The Prince of 

 l^anino notices two species, distinct from either of 

 the preceding, as peculiar to America. 



1852.— The Snipe 



{Scolopax Gallinago.) In the genus Scolopax the 

 beak is long, straight, compressed, and slender, but 

 swollen, minutely dimpled, and pulpy at the tip ; the 

 upper mandible is furrowed through half its length ; 

 the nostrils are lateral, basal, and longitudinal in 

 the commencement of the furrow. Legs slender, of 

 moderate length ; wings pointed ; eyes large, and 

 placed back in the head. 



The common snipe is the Bdcasseau bScassine and 

 Chfevre voland of the French ; Beccacino and Piz- 

 zarda of the Italians; Wald-schneppe of the Ger- 

 mans ; Ysnittan y Finiar of the Welsn. 



The common snipe is widely spread over Europe 

 and the adjacent parts of .A.sia, being everywhere a 

 birtl of migratory habits ; though it must be observed 

 that it breeds in our island wherever favourable lo- 

 calities afford it shelter. It was found in consider- 

 able numbers in the Orkneys, by the late Sir H. 

 Davy (1817), in the month of August ; he observed 

 that each nest contained two young birds, sometimes 

 three, and describes the parents as exceedingly at- 

 tached to their oftspring, adding that if any one ap- 

 proach their nest, tliey make a loud and drumming 

 noise over the head of the intruder, as if to divert 

 his attention. The snipe has been known to breed 

 also in Dorsetshire, in the New Forest, in Cambridge- 

 shire, in Norfolk, in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. 

 The nest is made of dry grass or herbage rudely put 

 together, and placed in some depression under the 

 covert of heath, fern, or long rushes near water, in 

 swampy spots, or on marshy hills. The eggs are 

 comparatively large, of a greenish white, spotted at 

 the larger end with different tints of brown. i 



In winter our homebred birds are joined by vast 

 accessions from Norway and other northern parts of 

 Europe, the greatest number arriving in the begin- 

 ning of November. These are ever on the move 

 from place to place, frequenting swamps, the margins 

 of rivulets, and oozy meadows along streams and 

 rivers, in quest of food ; this consists of worms, in- 

 sects, &c., in order to obtain which they thrust their 



bill up to its base in the mud, and are guided by its 



exquisite sensibility. 



About the beginning of April the snipe calls to his 

 mate, uttering a piping or clicking note, otlen re- 

 peated, and accompanied at intervals by a humming 

 noise, " apparently produced by the action of the 

 wings, as the bird, whenever this sound is emitted, is 

 observed to descend with great velocity, and with a 

 trembling motion of the pinions. At this season it 

 soars to an immense height, remaining long upon 

 the wing; and its notes may frequently be heard 

 when the bird itself is far beyond the reach of sight. 

 These flights are performed at intervals during the 

 day, but more commonly towards the evening, and 

 are continued during the whole time that the female 

 is engaged in incubation." 



Of the ordinary flight of this bird, of its excellence 

 for the table, and of the coloui-s of its plumage, 

 nething need be said. The Prince of Canino pa- 

 rallels the Gallinago Wilsoni (Scolopax Gallinago, 

 Wilson) of America with our European common 

 snipe, to which it is very closely allied. 



1853. — The Solitary or Gkeat Snipe 



{Scolopax major). Grande ou double B6cassine of 

 the French; Beccacino maggiore of the Italians; 

 Mittelschnepfe of the Germans ; Ysnid of the 

 Welsh. 



This species, also called the Double Snipe, is a 

 rare visitor to our shores, during its autumn pas- 

 sage to the south, and also during its spring return 

 to the northern regions, where it breeds. It is found 

 in Norway, Sweden, and Germany, and visits the 

 south of Europe, and the borders of Asia ; it occurs 

 in the neighbourhood of the Caucasus. Unlike the 

 common snipe, it is a bii-d of heavy and steady flight, 

 and ollen becomes so fat in the autumn, as Mr. 

 Lloyd experienced near Gothenburg, as to be scarcely 

 capable of taking wing. Its flesh is delicious. 



This species is mostly found singly, occasionally in 

 pairs ; but in some districts is very abundant, afford- 

 ing excellent sport to the " chasseur." Sir H. Davy 

 observed these birds breeding in the great marsh pre- 

 serve near Hanover, and noticed that the larvae of 

 the Tipulae (called Harry Longlegs) constituted the 

 principal portion of their food. They breed also in 

 Norway and Sweden, as liigh as the range of birch- 

 woods extends. The nest resembles that of the com- 

 mon snipe. During the pairing season they fly to a 

 vast height, and produce a drumming noise as they 

 descend by the vibration of their wings. According 

 to Mr. Greiff, the male has his playing-ground (or 

 lek), where he observed the birds running about, and 

 uttering a singular sound resembling a smack of the 

 tongue, followed by four or five smacks of a louder 

 tone : this habit would lead us to suppose that the 

 great snipe is polygamous, like the ruff (Machetes 

 pugnax). 



In the great or solitary snipe the tail is composed 

 of sixteen feathers ; middle of the first quill whitish : 

 top of the head black, divided by a band of yellow- 

 ish white ; stripe above the eye yellowish white ; 

 upper parts variegated with black and bright rusty, 

 the latter colours being disposed longitudinally ; 

 under parts whitish rusty ; abdomen and sides 

 striped with black bands ; bill inclining to reddish, 

 brown at the point ; feet greenish ash. Length 

 twelve inches. Females larger than the males. 

 Weight from seven to nine ounces. 



1854. — The .Jack Snipe 



{Scolopax Gallinvla). La Petite BScassine and 

 Bficassine sourde of the French ; Moorschneppe of 

 the Germans ; Judcock, provincial English. 



This species appears to be confined to Europe and 

 Northern Asia, and is a periodical winter visitant to 

 our island, making its first appearance about the 

 second week of September. Early in March it quits 

 our latitudes for the polar regions, where it breeds ; 

 we believe that there is no authenticated instance of 

 its having been known to incubate in any of our 

 fens. The jack-snipe frequents oozy bogs and 

 marshe." ; when flushed, it uttere no alarm-cry, and 

 after a short direct flight drops in some miry spot, 

 and is not to be easily roused again. This species is 

 the smallest of the genus, being about half the size 

 of the common snipe, and seldom exceeding two 

 ounces and a quarter in weight ; but its flesh is ex- 

 quisite. It is generally found solitary ; and, unlike 

 the common snipe, having fixed upon one locality 

 as its haunt, it seldom quits it for another, even 

 though harassed by the sportsman. It sits very 

 close, and will allow itself almost to be trodden upon 

 before taking wing. The plumage of this bird is too 

 well known to require a detailed description. 



ia55, 185G.— The Woodcock 

 {Scolopax Rtisticola). Bfecasse of the French ; 

 Beccaccia of the Italians ; Waldschnepfe of the Ger- 

 mans ; Cvfiylog of the Welsh. 



Though the woodcock is a native of the northern 

 latitudes of Europe and Asia, its migratory range is 

 very extensive, extending to Italy, Madeira, Bar- 



bary, Greece, Aleppo, and Sgypt. It has been no> 

 ticed in CHshmere and .Japan. It breeds in Russia, 

 Finland, Norway, Sweden, Siberia, &-c., and also 

 in Switzerland and Great Britain. With respect to 

 its breeding in our islands, we might cite numerous 

 authentic instances on record, but the fact is too 

 well established to require such labour. Wv may 

 however refer to Montagu, Bewick, Selby, and Yar- 

 rell, and also to Loudon's ' Mag. Nat. Hist." 1837, 

 pages 121, 'Sfi, 439. What, however, seems very 

 extraordinary is, that woodcocks have been known, 

 when apprehensive of immediate danger, to carry 

 off in their claws both the young and their eggs. 

 (See a paper by Mr. Fairholm in the Magazine 

 referred to, p. 3;JJ, and also a paper by a correspond- 

 ent, p. 122.) It is stated in the latter that the Blue 

 Harrier (Circus cyaneus) also removes the eggs, 

 when the nest has been molested. 



The first flights of woodcocks from the north to 

 our island generally occur towards the end of Sep- 

 tember or the beginning of October ; but these flocks, 

 after remaining a short time, wing their way to the 

 mere southern regions of Europe, and northern 

 Africa, a few stragglers only remaining behind, 

 which are atterwards joined by other arrivals during 

 the latter part of October, November, and Decem- 

 ber. They generally come over in hazy weather with 

 little wind, and that blowing Irom the north-east. 

 Their favourite haunts are woods, moist thickets, 

 close brakes, glens, and similar places, where they re- 

 main concealed during the day, but as soon as dark- 

 ness sets in they leave these retreats, and scatter 

 themselves over moist meadows and swampy open 

 grounds, where they search for food, namely, slugs, 

 insects, and especially worms, thrusting their bill into 

 the earth, and drawing forth their captives. The di- 

 gestion of this bird is very rapid. Mr. Selby states 

 that he had known one to consume within a single 

 night more large earth-worms than half filled a 

 garden-pot of considerable size. The nest of the 

 woodcock is a loose structure of grass and leaves, in 

 a depression among herbage and thickets, near the 

 root of a tree or bush. The eggs are usually lour in 

 number, of a pale yellowish white, blotched and 

 spotted at the larger end with ash grey, and two 

 shades of yellowish brown. During the pairing sea- 

 son the birds often pursue each other on the ap- 

 proach of dusk, circling the wood for an hour or two, 

 and uttering a sharp but not very loud whistling 

 note ; besides this the male often flies low on heavy 

 and flapping wings, keeping up an incessant croak- 

 ing, or rather purring noise, not unlike that of the 

 spinning-wheel. As the season advances, these 

 circling flights and noises are discontinued, " the 

 low croaking and occasional whistle being," as a 

 writer observes, " peculiar to the period of incuba- 

 tion, like that singular noise made by the .snipe in 

 spring, as it rapidly descends in the air during its 

 circuitous flight over its native morass." 



We need not say that the woodcock is highly ce- 

 lebrated for the exquisite flavour of its flesh. When, 

 however, the spring change of plumage commences, 

 it loses its delicacy, and becomes rank and worthless. 



The return of the woodcock to the regions of the 

 north from our latitudes takes place in March, and 

 by the middle of April all, save those that remain 

 stationary with us, have disappeared. 



The female somewhat exceeds the male in size. 



1857. — ^Thb African Painted Snipe 



{Rhynchwa Capensis). From the genus Scolopax 

 are separated the painted snipes of Africa and India, 

 which form the genus Rhynchsea ; they are charac- 

 terized by the beak being slightly arched at the tip. 

 Their habits and manners are those of the snipes 

 generally. 



1858, 185D, 1860, 1861.— The Ruff 



{Machetes pufjnax). Female, the Reeve. Le Cora- 

 battant and Paon de Mer of the French ; Salsarola 

 and Uccello muto of the Italians ; Streisschnepfe 

 and Rampfhiihlein of the Germans; yr Ymladdgar 

 of the Welsh. 



The genus Machetes was separated from Tringa 

 by Cuvier for the reception of this remarkable 

 species, celebrated for its combativeness and poly- 

 gamous habits, no less than the singular changes of 

 plumage which the male undergoes at certain seasons 

 of the year. The ruff is generally distributed over 

 Europe and the adjacent parts of Asia, and is a 

 summer, not winter, visitant to our island, amving 

 in April, breeding in our fens, and departing in 

 autumn. An occasional straggler remains with us 

 during the winter. In Holland it is very abundant. 

 In England the fens of Lincolnshire and Cambridge- 

 shire are its principal resort. It would appear that 

 the males are the first to arrive at their destined 

 station ; at all events they keep themselves in dis- 

 tinct bands, separate from the females. .\s the 

 breeding-time draws near, beautiful long plumes 

 round the neck, forming a ruff, and large full ear- 

 tufts, rapidly develop. The males now begin to 

 hill, as it is termed — that is, they seek some spot a 



