SOLITARY SNIPE. IGl 



they do not exceed in size those of the lark. The flesh is 

 excellent. 



The solitary snipe or large snipe is rarely found in 

 England, and Mr. St. John says he never saw but one 

 in Scotland. They have been sometimes shot in Lanca- 

 shire and also in Kent. In 1792 they were more fre- 

 quently seen in the northern counties, and fine specimens 

 of this bird are in the Leverian museum. Some sports- 

 men have expressed a doubt whether the solitary snipe 

 is a distinct species from the full snipe. I conceive there 

 is no doubt of its being a distinct species, and its habits 

 differ from those of the full snipe. This bird is of the 

 size between the woodcock and snipe, and weighs eight 

 ounces, length sixteen inches, bill four inches long like 

 that of the woodcock ; crown of the head black, divided 

 down the middle by a pale stripe. Over and beneath 

 each eye another of the same; neck and breast of a 

 yellowish white, finely marked with small semicircular 

 lines of black ; belly with cordated spots, and sides un- 

 dulated with black : the upper parts of the body very 

 like the common snipe ; tail reddish, the two middle 

 feathers plain, the others barred with black ; the legs 

 black. According to Latham, the solitary snipe is found 

 in Grermany and Siberia. 



At the coronation of Alexander Emperor of Russia 

 in 1856, some of the suite of our ambassador who was 

 sent on this occasion to Moscow found in their shooting 

 excursions in the neighbourhood many of the solitary 

 snipe>;. 



The most destructive enemy of the snipe, is the blue 

 hawk. These birds beat over the marsh or morass at no 

 great height from its surface with much exactness until 

 they discover the snipe, who through fear, crouches as 



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