SNIPE. GRALLATORES. SCOLOPAX. 127 



siderably bent, and forming an acute angle with the body. 

 It seldom flies to any distance, but drops in the first miry 

 spot that presents itself, from whence it is roused with even 

 more difficulty than at first. It utters no alarm-cry when it 

 rises, nor have I been able to discover any note belonging 

 to this species. Of its nidification I can only speak after Nest, &c. 

 other writers, who state the site of the nest to be in bogs 

 and morasses, and TEMMINCK enumerates the eggs as four 

 or five ; the former of which is, in all probability, the cor- 

 rect number, as this appears the usual quantity laid by all 

 the Scolopacida ; and I believe the same holds good with 

 respect to the Charadriadte. Its geographical distribution 

 seems confined to Europe and Northern Asia; although 

 LATHAM, in his Index Ornithologicus, mentions it also as 

 an American species, in which he is followed by STEPHENS 

 and other compilers. This, however, requires corroboration, 

 more particularly as it is not enumerated by WILSON ; or 

 by any other writer who has treated upon the birds of that 

 country. In the delicacy and flavour of its flesh it is equal 

 to its congeners, and, considered in this point of view, is not 

 too diminutive to attract the aim of the sportsman. In open 

 and mild weather it soon becomes exceedingly fat, and as 

 speedily loses its condition in severe frosts, when its feeding- 

 ground is restricted to the heads of springs and unfrozen 

 ditches. 



PLATE 23. Fig. 5. represents this bird of the natural size. 



Bill black at the tip, fading into grey, with a tinge of General 

 flesh-red, towards the base. From the bill, over the eye tion. 

 and down to the nape of the neck, is a broad streak of 

 cream-yellow. Between the bill and eye is a streak of 

 amber-brown. The ear-coverts have a mixture of white 

 and brown, each feather being tipped with black. 

 Crown of the head black ; the feathers being margined 

 with reddish-brown. Throat white. Lower part of the 

 neck and the breast pale yellowish-brown, tinged with 



