COMMON SNIPE. 181 



proved to be a green sandpiper, a species which I 

 had known to occur about here in a few previous 

 instances in spring and autumn ; but never at any 

 other season. From the case of this individual, 

 however, it would seem as if they remained the 

 winter with us : whether they continue also during 

 the summer, and breed anywhere in the neighbour- 

 hood, I am not aware. On dissecting this bird, we 

 were surprised at finding it so fat, especially as the 

 stomach was quite empty, without a vestige of any- 

 thing in it that could lead to a conjecture as to the 

 nature of its food : the coats of .the stomach were 

 very strong and muscular. 



COMMON SNIPE.* 



June 15th, 1837. A MAN brought me to-day an 

 old snipe, with two young ones in their nestling fea- 

 thers, which he obtained in Burwell Fen yesterday. 

 These birds are now known to breed in our low 

 grounds in considerable numbers ; but I never could 

 hear of any instance of the nest of the jack snipe 

 being found there. 



DUNLIN. f 



THESE birds occasionally visit our fens during the 

 summer months, and I am inclined to think sometimes 

 breed there. In the beginning of July, 1824, they 

 were very abundant. Several which were then killed, 



* Scolopax gallinago, Linn. 

 1* Tringa variabilis, Temm. 



