214 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



Quail was nothing unusual in the memory of many 

 sportsmen now living. 



SABINE'S SNIPE, at one time supposed to be a 

 distinct species, but now generally regarded by 

 naturalists as only a melanism of the Common Snipe, 

 has not unfrequently been met with in Ireland. A 

 dozen or more instances of its occurrence have been 

 recorded, and I have notes of three Irish-killed 

 specimens which I have personally inspected. 



THE SOLITARY or DOUBLE SNIPE (Gallinago major] 

 I have flushed and shot several times in Ireland. 

 It is not particularly rare, but its general similarity 

 to the common species doubtless causes it to be 

 overlooked. Mr. Harrington, the well-known 

 Snipe shot of Tralee, informs me that he has 

 killed eleven in ten years' shooting. As compared 

 with the Common Snipe, it flies sluggishly, and 

 without those turns and twists which make the 

 other bird so difficult a mark when on the wing. 

 It may always be recognized by its larger size, 

 comparatively weaker bill, and by its having the 

 whole of the under parts spotted, instead of white, 

 and the outer tail-feathers on each side pure 

 white. 



THE JACK SNIPE (Gallinago gallinula) is rare now 

 in Ireland, compared with what used to be the case 

 before the recent hard winters, but its comparative 

 scarcity is no great loss to the shooter. One Jack 

 to a score of Common Snipe is now about the pro- 

 portion in which they will be met with ; and I have 

 even brought home of late seasons fifteen couple of 

 the latter without having obtained, or indeed seen, 

 more than one or two of the former. Jack Snipe 



