GREAT SNIPE. 29 



of the head rich dark brown, divided along the middle 

 line from before backwards by a pale brown stripe ; 

 neck all round pale brown, the centre of each feather 

 darker brown; interscapulars, scapulars, and back, rich 

 brownish black, with central lines and broad margins of 

 rich buff or fawn colour; lesser wing-coverts nearly 

 black, the upper series tipped with pale brown, the lower 

 series tipped with white ; great coverts black, tipped with 

 white ; primary quill -feathers dull greyish black, with 

 white shafts ; secondaries dull black, tipped with white ; 

 tertials black, barred and streaked with pale brown ; 

 rump very dark brown, edged with pale brown ; upper 

 tail-coverts pale yellow brown, varied with dark brown ; 

 tail-feathers sixteen, the four on each outside nearly all 

 white, the others rich brownish black over three-fourths 

 of their length from the base, then a patch of chestnut, 

 bounded by a circle of black, and tipped with white ; 

 chin pale yellow brown ; breast and sides of the body with 

 half-circular bands of brownish black on pale brown ; belly 

 and vent pale brownish white; legs and toes greenish 

 brown, the claws black. The legs and toes are subject to 

 some variation in colour : I have seen them in fresh-killed 

 birds of a livid green, and even of a light drab colour. 



The whole length is about twelve inches. From the 

 carpal joint to the end of the first quill-feather, which is 

 the longest in the wing, five inches and a half. The 

 weight from seven to nine ounces, depending on age and 

 sex. The females larger than the males. The Rev. 

 Richard Lubbock mentions having met with one that 

 weighed ten ounces. 



The males are lighter in colour above and below the 

 dark stripe behind the base of the beak, like the Wood- 

 cock ; and the breast is less covered with the dark half- 

 circular markings: the white spots at the ends of the 



