WOODCOCK AXD SNIPE 405 



It lives among rocks, stunted tirs, willows, ami other bushes ; and its range extends 

 not only over Europe but into central Asia. In Norway most of the ptarmigan 

 migrate southwards in winter, and in the Alps they descend the mountains in 

 search of shelter. Some ptarmigan, however, brave the Arctic cold, and have been 

 observed with full crops in the company of lemmings and Arctic hai-es, in latitude 

 73° 30', throughout the winter. The close feathers form an effective protection 

 against the cold, for this bird with its sharp claws digs long tunnels through 

 the snow with such ease that, when pursued by a hawk, it burrows beneath the 

 snow with surprising quickness. The nest, which is similar to that of the willow- 

 grouse, in June contains from six to fifteen eggs. The hen ptarmigan takes the 

 greatest care of her young. During pairing-time the cock has a sort of nuptial flight, 

 and utters a gruff croak, which is answered by the female with a soft "djak djak." 

 In habits the ptarmigan resembles the willow-grouse, but is more sociable, and 

 eats fewer willow-buds. The summer plumage is distinguished from that of 

 the willow-grouse by the paler colouring, with lighter edges and black bands. 

 The hen is without the characteristic black stripe between eyes and beak. A 

 closely allied species, the rock ptarmigan, L. rupestris, is of similar habits and 

 almost similar plumage. It is found in northern Asia, Japan, Arctic America, and 

 Scotland, and in Newfoundland is so much like the European bird that it would 

 seem to be merely a variety. 

 wood:ock and The snipe group is rich in northern species ; the woodcock and 



snipe. common snipe being, for instance, found up to 67° N. latitude ; that is, 

 up to the tree-line. A relative of the latter, the jack-snipe (Gallinago gallinula), is 

 <\ true northern bird, though it also nests in Germany. Frequenting well-watered, 

 marshy districts, and pastures with soft ground and plenty of alder-bushes, where it 

 lays its pale olive eggs marked with grey, yellowish, or reddish and blackish brown 

 spots, this bird walks with its head between its shoulders, lowering the point of 

 its beak, and keeping its body in a horizontal position. By day it skulks furtively 

 about, but in the evening walks with more assurance. In daylight its flight is 

 low and of short extent, but in the silence of night, or on migration, this snipe 

 flies long distances in the upper regions of the air, descending suddenly to rest on 

 the ground. In cold spring evenings it utters its curious courting cry, which is similar 

 to the hammering of the death-watch, and lasts from four to six seconds. Jack-snipe 

 migrate in spring, during March, April, and May ; the autumn migration taking 

 place from August to October. Although in Germany generally known only as a 

 migrant, it is found breeding in pairs in Hanover, Silesia, Brandenburg, and else- 

 where. It is a common bird in Lithuania and Finland, more frequent in Russia, 

 and still more so in western Siberia, which is its principal breeding-area ; it 

 winters in the Mediterranean countries. This species is the smallest of the 

 European snipe, being not more than 8 inches long. It has a blackish brown 

 crown without a light stripe in the middle, and a reddish brown back with a 

 glossy purple mantle, though in winter the brown of the back becomes very grey. 



The great snipe (G. major) loves a swampy treeless country with stretches 

 of sand, but in some parts of the Continent also visits meadows near sheets of 

 water, and shallow rivers traversing grassy marshes ; it is always, however, very 

 local. It is not so particular as to locality on migration, which in spring lasts 



