



GREAT SNIPE. 19 



now by no means uncommon, but occurs more frequently 

 in autumn than in any other season : the major part of the 

 examples obtained, are young birds of the year ; and from 

 this species being known to breed in high northern lati- 

 tudes, these autumnal visitants are seen while on their 

 route to their more southern winter quarters. Their 

 course, both in spring and in autumn, is considered by Mr. 

 Selby to be generally to the east of the longitude of the 

 British Islands ; and I may mention, in corroboration of 

 this view, that I am not aware of more than one record of 

 the occurrence of this species in Ireland, and in England 

 they are most frequent in the eastern counties. 



The habits of this Great Snipe, or Solitary Snipe, as it 

 is often called, will be best elucidated by references to the 

 communications and accounts of those who have enjoyed 

 opportunities of observation in this and in other countries. 

 The Rev. Richard Lubbock writes me from Norfolk as fol- 

 lows : Mr. Paget says of this bird, " not uncommon in the 

 autumn," which is strictly true. I have known more than 

 twenty specimens come under my own observation in the 

 same season ; but I cannot remember a single instance 

 where this Snipe has occurred in spring: I have made 

 many inquiries, and have invariably found them occurring 

 in autumn, generally early in the season, often in Sep- 

 tember. This species is very frequently found in pairs, 

 and does not deserve to be called Solitary. On the wing 

 it looks but little larger than the Common Snipe, and may 

 be recognised at once by its tail, spread like a fan. Its 

 flight is steadier and heavier, which may in some degree 

 arise from the aptitude of the bird to make fat. I have 

 handled more than a dozen specimens ; have shot the bird 

 three times myself; and all I have seen were loaded with 



flesh and fat. I find I have noted that Richardson, the 



c 2 



