UPLAND SHOOTING. 91 



ter a long, clear, but feeble peep^ not louder than that of a 

 mouse. Jhey are far inferior to young partridges, in running 

 and skulking, and, should the female be unfortunately killed, 

 may be easily taken on the spot." — Wilson's Am. OrnUhology. 



COMMON SNIPE. 

 Scolopax Wilsonu. — Tfie EiujUsh Snipe. 



"Male lOi.17. 



" Distributed throughout the country. Breeds from Vir- 

 ginia northward. Exceedingly abundant in the Southern and 

 Western districts during winter. 



" Adult male. 



" Bill twice as long as the head, subulate, straight, depressed 

 toward the end, compressed for more than half its length. 

 Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight ; the ridge, for a 

 short space at the base, tlattish, then convex ; towards the 

 end flattened ; the sides with a narrow groove extending to 

 near the tip, which is obtuse and probe-like ; the edges soft 

 and obtuse. Nostrils basal, linear, very small. Lower man- 

 dible with the angle extremely narrow and long, the sides 

 nearly erect, with a groove having several bars across it ; the 

 end of both mandibles covered, after death, with numerous 

 prominences, or rather with reticular depressions, leaving small 

 prominences between them. 



" Head rather small, oblong, narrowed anteriorly, the fore- 

 head elevated and rounded. Neck rather short. Body rather 

 full. Legs of moderate length, slender ; tibia bare below, 

 scutellate before and behind ; tarsus with numerous scutella 

 before, smaller ones behind, and reticulated sides ; toes very 

 slender, free, scutellate above, narrow and slightly margined 

 beneath ; first very small, third longer than the tarsus ; fourth 

 much shorter, but considerably longer than the second. Claws 

 slightly arched, extremely compressed, very acute, that of the 

 third toe longest. 



" Plumage very soft, rather full, blended ; on the forepart 



