312 WOODCOCK AND SNIPE 



little from those of the common-snipe. [Average size of 104 eggs, 

 1*5 x T08 in. ; 38'2 x 27'4 mm.] On comparing a series of the eggs 

 of the common and jack-snipes, it will be found that the markings on 

 the eggs of the latter are, as a rule, smaller and more generally dis- 

 tributed, while both ground-colour and markings show generally more 

 brown, the ground-colour being yellowish or brownish olive, and the 

 irregular spots and streaks dark brown, with ashy underlying shell- 

 marks. The eggs of the great-snipe vary somewhat in appearance, 

 the ground-colour being generally stone colour or greyish buff, occa- 

 sionally with a greenish tinge. The markings consist of bold blotches 

 and spots of deep Vandyke brown, rather sparsely distributed over 

 the surface as a rule, but occasionally in profusion ; the underlying 

 blotches are ashy grey. [Average size of 31 eggs, 179x1 -33 in.; 

 45-4 x 33-8 mm.]. 1 



1 P. C. R. Jourdain, in litt. 



