GREAT SNIPE. 299 



SCOLOPAX MAJOR, Gmelin. 

 GEEAT SOTPE. 



The solitary or " double " snipe, as it is provincially 

 termed, is a regular autumnal visitant, though for the 

 most part in small numbers, and appears with the 

 earliest nights of the common species in August and 

 September. From my own notes for the last twenty 

 years, I find the 1 7th of August and the 14th of October 

 the earliest and latest dates of its occurrence in Norfolk ; 

 and in no instance have I heard of its being killed here 

 during^ the winter months. Another peculiarity also 

 of this bird is the fact that it is scarcely ever known to 

 visit us in spring, when the common snipe again makes 

 its appearance, in considerable numbers, on its north- 

 ward passage. Writing of this species, Mr. Lubbock 

 remarks "they are never to be found in March, the 

 usual period of the snipe's vernal migration," nor do 

 I now know of more than one or two authentic 

 instances, and those, no doubt, stragglers driven acci- 

 dentally to the westward of their usual migratory 

 course.* An adult bird in the collection of Mr. Alfred 

 Master, of this city, was killed a few years back on 

 Yarmouth beach in the spring, under the following 

 curious circumstances. It was observed by a fisherman 

 who was putting off to sea in his boat, flying low over 

 the waves and making direct for the shore^ where it 

 alighted on the beach. Having a gun with him he went 

 at once in pursuit of it, and from him it was purchased 

 in the flesh by my informant Mr. S. Bligh. It must 



* Mr. Selby describes the " direction of their latitudinal flight 

 as much to the east of the longitude of the British Islands," 

 but though in England they are apparently most frequent in the 

 Eastern Counties, yet according to Thompson they also occur 

 occasionally in Ireland. 

 2 Q 2 



