SNIPE. 353 



SNIPE.* 

 Gallinago Wilsoni. 



Scolopax gallinago, WIL s. Aud . pi. 24 3. 



Gallinago Wilsoni, Bo NAP. 



FROM November to April this beautiful and de- 

 licious bird is rather common in the morasses of 

 Jamaica. In the fetid swamp that borders Blue- 

 fields Creek, I have principally met with it, run- 

 ning on the boggy places, some of which are dan- 

 gerous and difficult of approach. When the tide 

 comes in, however, the wading birds are driven 

 to the edges of the morass, and may then be seen 

 from the high road at Belmont, walking and feeding 

 deliberately in the shallow water, among the slender 

 stems of the black mangroves, not half a stone's 

 cast from the passers by. When the water stands 

 just above the tarsal joint, the beak can just reach 

 the bottom : and thus it walks deliberately about, 

 momentarily feeling the mud with the sensitive 

 beak-tip, striking with short perpendicular strokes. 

 Now and then we perceive the motion of swal- 

 lowing. So absorbed is the bird in its occupa- 

 tion, that I have shouted aloud, without its tak- 

 ing any notice ; nor when its eye at last caught 

 the motion of my hand, did it more than run, 

 somewhat leisurely, away. 



* Length 10 inches, expanse 17, flexure 5, tail 2-|, rictus 2-j^, tarsus 

 1-5%, middle toe 1-&. 



