Shore-bird Shooting 341 



EUROPEAN SNIPE 



(Gallinago gallinagd) 



Plumage Almost exactly similar to G. delicata, the distinction 

 between the species being in the size. In the European variety 

 the bill, tarsi, -and toes are longer, the wing slightly shorter. 

 The tail feathers are normally fourteen (sixteen in the American 

 species), the bars on lateral tail feathers are fewer in number 

 and feathers broader, and the white generally predominates on 

 the under wing-coverts and axillars the reverse obtaining in 

 G. delicata. 



Downy young Bright chestnut, spotted or striped with black on 

 back, below eye, on throat and fore-neck ; line of white below 

 eye and much of the down above tipped with silvery white. 



Measurements Length, 10.50 inches; wing, 5.15 inches; bill, 2.90 

 inches; tarsus, 1.25 to 1.50 inches ; middle toe, 1.30 inches. 



Eggs Four; grayish yellow, spotted and patched with brownish 

 gray; measure 1.60 by i.io. 



Habitat Breeds throughout northern Europe and Siberia to about 

 70 north latitude, in Iceland and probably Greenland, and 

 south in mountain ranges to the Alps, southern Russia, Turke- 

 stan, and southern Mongolia, and is said to breed in Algeria. 

 Winters in Great Britain and south to the Mediterranean, west 

 to the Azores, south in Africa to Gambia and Somaliland, the 

 northern shores of the Indian Ocean, the Philippine Islands, and 

 China. Has occurred in Bermuda. 



This snipe is found throughout the northern 

 parts of the Old World, and closely resembles the 

 American variety in habits and appearance. It 

 has been found in considerable numbers in Green- 

 land and has straggled to Bermuda. In North 

 America it has never been taken. 



On Bering Island the English snipe is a 

 tolerably common summer resident, breeding on 

 the low, swampy tundra ; and in the beginning of 



