GREAT SNIPE. 23 



M. Menetries found it in the vicinity of Caucasus, where 

 he says it is a bird of passage. 



The beak dark brown at the end, pale yellow brown at 

 the base ; irides dark brown ; from the base of the beak to 

 the eye, a dark brown streak ; over that, over the eye and 

 the ear-coverts, a streak of pale brown ; forehead and top 

 of the head rich dark brown, divided along the middle 

 line from before backwards by a pale brown stripe ; 

 neck all round pale brown, the centre of each feather 

 darker brown ; interscapulars, scapulars, and back, rich 

 brownish black, with central lines and broad margins of 

 rich buff or fawn colour ; lesser wing-coverts nearly 

 black, the upper series tipped with pale brown, the lower 

 series tipped with white; great coverts black, tipped with 

 white ; primary quill-feathers dull greyish black, with 

 white shafts; secondaries dull black, tipped with white; 

 tertials black, barred and streaked with pale brown ; 

 rump very dark brown, edged with pale brown ; upper 

 tail-coverts pale yellow brown, varied with dark brown ; 

 tail-feathers sixteen, the four on each outside nearly all 

 white, the others rich brownish black over three-fourths 

 of their length from the base, then a patch of chestnut, 

 bounded by a circle of black, and tipped with white ; 

 chin pale yellow brown ; breast and sides of the body with 

 half-circular bands of brownish black on pale brown ; belly 

 and vent pale brownish white ; legs and toes greenish 

 brown, the claws black. The legs and toes are subject to 

 some variation in colour : I have seen them in fresh-killed 

 birds of a livid green, and even of a light drab colour. 



The whole length about twelve inches. From the 

 carpal joint to the end of the first quill-feather, which is 

 the longest in the wing, five inches and a half. The 

 weight from seven to nine ounces, depending on age and 



