FAMILY SCOLOPACIDJE ; SNIPES, WOODCOCK. 501 



and sculptured it upon their monuments. Various reasons have 

 been assigned for these honours ; according to some, it was on 

 account of its utility in destroying serpents, which seems 

 doubtful ; the more probable opinion is, that its appearance 

 announced the rise of the Nile, on which (as is well known) the 

 fertility of the country entirely depends. 



450. The members of the family SCOLOPACID^, or Snipe 

 tribe, are all inhabitants of marshy lands, the borders of swamps, 

 lakes, and rivers, and the sea shore. Their food consists of 

 insects, worms, slugs, aquatic mollusks, &c. ; and they usually 

 obtain it by thrusting their long bills into the mud or moist 

 earth. For this purpose they are provided with a very peculiar 

 distribution of nerves upon the bill, which render its exterior 

 sensible, especially towards its tip, the membrane of which is 

 almost pulpy ; and in many species there is a peculiar muscle, 

 that enables the Bird to separate the flexible points of the man- 

 dibles, so as to seize its prey the moment it is felt, whilst the bill 

 is still buried in the ground. The distribution of this family is 

 very general ; all the Birds which it contains being more or less 

 migratory in their habits ; and their powers of flight considerable. 

 These Birds so much resemble each other in their general con- 

 formation and habits, that it will not be necessary to do much 

 more than mention the principal species included in this family. 

 The Snipes have a long, straight, compressed, and slender beak ; 

 the legs slender and short ; the toes rather long, and not united 

 at their base. They mostly breed in 

 high latitudes, and pass southwards at 

 the approach of winter. The British 

 islands are thus visited by four species ; 

 the Common Snipe, which sometimes 

 breeds in our own country ; the Solitary 

 or Great Snipe, which is comparatively 

 rare ; the Jack Snipe, a much smaller 



species ; and the Woodcock, which also breeds in our islands. 

 This last Bird conceals itself in woods, thickets, or brakes, 

 during the day ; but proceeds at night to damp meadows or 



