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This I. in! is tin- commonest <>f tin- --a loving Sandpipers, and com.- i the shores in large 

 flocks, keeping <!..-. in t IK- edge of the waves, runnim: along the sands und pecking e*>:> 

 tin- imillii-U->. w.'im-. ami -null,.! crustacea, which ore ao plentiful on the margin <>f the 



retiriiiic wax. -. Tlt.-\ an- niinl-1.- liml-d birds, nl way* on tin- ve, and are sure to be either 



enir.ige.1 in running aU.ut after food or thin- !'i..m one feeding-place to another. \Vhile 

 llviii- they present nit her a curi.. seem to change from white to black 



alternately, according to tin- j>oint of \i.-\v in whirh they are seen ; their dark backs ami 



white mi.|.-r sur faces contrast im; i--'i,n\ with each other. 



Tin- hunlin is occasionally found in America, and a variety is resident, .-all.-.! Itla.-k 

 lwlli.il. ami also Red-hacked Sandpi|N>r. It is found al..n_' tin- whole Atlantic coast. It 

 -. \\interini; in tin- States, an.l breeds fur north. It IKI.S IH-.-II fomnl as far west as 

 l>-a\.-nworth. Wilson Bays the name is Gray-hack with .sport>m<-n. ami that it is a particular 

 fa\rit<- with tin-in. It associates in small flocks, alighting in close bodies together on the 

 flat-, where it limls small moll usca to feed upon. It is less timid than other s|>ecies, standing 

 iin>m-.-ii-<lly for a tiin.- on tlu* approach of the sportsman. In November it migrates for the 

 ith. Th.- l.'iiLrih <>f Ixxiy is ten inches, extent of wing tw.-nt \ in.-h.-. The sexes are alike 

 in general api>earunce. 



Tin. < ' 1:1 A i SMI-K may even on the wing be distinguished from the common species, by 

 the jw.-uliar. fan-like shape of the tail. \Vhil. (lying it hardly looks larger than the common 

 Sni|' It is m>t readily roused from the ground, hut will |-nnit itself to be almost trodden 

 on U-foiv it will ii-'-. trusting t<> its brown mottled plumap-. which harmonizes so well with 

 tli.- ground that the bird is not readily perceived. When flushed, it only flies to a little dis- 

 tance, ami th.-n vttlt-s among heather or rank grass. The flesh of this species is very good, 

 as tin- I'inl becomes exceedingly fat \\ h.-n it finds a good feeding-place, so much so, indeed, 

 that it can hardly fly, and, according to Mr. Grieff, is in autumn so fat that it almost bursts 

 its skin. 



f 



THE COMMON SNIPE is too well known to need much description. Its habits, however, 

 are interesting, and deserve some notice. 



This t>inl may be seen all over Europe, wherever damp and swampy places are found. 

 When first flushed, it shoots off in a straight line for a few yards and th-n begins to twist and 

 turn in a strangely zigzag fashion, and at hist darts away, thereby puzzling juvenile sportsmen 

 greatly, and often escaping before its enemy has got his aim. 



The nest of the Snipe is a simple heap of leaves placed under the shelter of a tuft of furze, 

 heath, or grass, and the eggs are four in number of an olive-white, spotted and dashed with 

 brown .f different tones towards and upon the large end. The mother-bird has been known 

 to carry away her young when threatened by danger. 



Til.- coloring of the Common Snipe is briefly as follows : The top of the head is dark 

 brown ; :i light brown streak runs along the centre; the cheeks are pale brown with a dark streak 

 from th.- hill to the eye, and over the dark streak is another of a paler hue. The back is 

 beautifully mottled with two shades of brown, and four bold lines of warm lu<T run aloni: the 

 upper surface of the body. The wings are black, some of the feathers ln-inu tipped with 

 whit.-. The chin is very pale brown, the neck Is also light brown. Imt -pott-d with a darker 

 hm- : th.- breast and abdomen are white, and the flanks gray-whit.- with dull black bars. The 

 under tail-coverts are cream-colored with a brown tinge and barred with gray-black. The 

 average lenirth of the Snipe is between ten and eleven inches. 



The English Snipe is the name this bird bears in A im-Hca, as it is an occasional visitor here. 



WILSON'S SNIPE (ZalUnago wihonf) is now regarded as a variety of the preceding. Its 

 range is throughout the whole of North America, and southward to South America, Mexico, 

 and the West Indies. It breeds from northern New Knirlaml northward. It is a migrant 

 through the region of the Missouri, though it is thouirht that some winter in the southern 

 portions. 



