BUFF-BREASTED SAND-PI PE-R. 89 



'o extricate itself; and I remember spending some minutes in 

 trying to discover the supposed insect. The eggs are usually 

 four, placed in a very slight and inartificial nest on the groiind 

 near some tuft of rushes or other water-herbage, They are of a 

 greenish-olive hue, blotched and spotted with two or tnree shavtes 

 of brown, the deepest being very dark. The old ones are said to 

 be very jealous and careful of their young. Many couple are 

 often killed on the moors in this district on or just after the 12th 

 of August. Fig. 2, plate IX. 



206. JACK SNIPE (Scolopax gallinula). 

 Judcock, Half Snipe. A little bird, very often seen quite 

 late in the spring, but no specimen of whose egg undoubtedly 

 laid in Britain has, as far as I know, ever yet been produced. It 

 may breed here, in some few instances, but none such are yet ascer- 

 tained. No notice of its eggs can consequently be inserted here. 



207, SABINE'S SNIPE (Scolopax Sabini). 

 A very few instances indeed have been recorded of the occur- 

 rence of this bird in England. 



208. BROWN SNIPE (Macroramphm gnseus). 



As rare a bird as that last named, or nearly so. 

 209. CURLEW SAND-PIPER (Tringa subarquata). 



This little bird, which serves to connect the true Snipes with 

 the sea-frequenting Snipes or Sandpipers, was till lately con- 

 sidered to be a very rare and occasional visitor. But it is very 

 likely to have been confused with the Dunlin, or other small 

 shore-birds, and is now supposed even to breed occasionally in 

 our country. During autumn it is sometimes seen in small 

 groups or flocks. " M. Temminck says this bird breeds occa- 

 sionally in Holland, and that the eggs are yellowish-white, 

 spotted with dark brown." 



210. KNOT. (Tringa Canutus). 



Camden says this bird derived its name from the Danish King 

 Knut or Cnut, (generally written Canute, but not properly 

 pronounced so ;) probably because he was very fond of eating 

 them. A very poor piece of etymology I should almost think. 

 It is not uncommonly met with in Autumn on several parts of 

 our coasts, and as far as I have seen is by no means difficult to 

 approach. But its breeding-place is very much more to the 

 north than any portion of the British Islands extends. The 

 male in his nuptial dress is a very much gayer gentleman than 

 after his annual honeymoon is over. 



211. BUFF-BREASTED SAND-PIPER (Trmga rufescens). 



Only of verv casual occurrence here. 



