GREAT SNIPE. 237 



SCOLOPAX MAJOR. 

 GREAT SNIPE. 



(PLATE 28.) 



Gallinago media, Gerini, Orn. Meth. Dig. iv. p. 59, pi. cdxlvi. (1773). 



Scolopax media (Gerini), Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. i. p. 292 (1787). 



Scolopax major, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. p. 661 (1788) ; et auctorum plurimorum 



Naumann, Temminck, (Gray), (Gotild), (Dresser), (Saunders), &c. 

 Gallinago major (Gmel.), Leach, Syst. Cat. Mamm. fyc. Brit. Mus. p. 31 (1816). 

 Scolopax palustris, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat. ii. p. 173 (1826). 

 Telmatias major (Gmel.), Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 615 (1831). 

 Scolopax leucurus, Sivains. Faun. Bor.-Amer. ii. p. 501 (1831). 

 Gallinago montagui, Bonap. Comp. List B. Ear. fy N. Amer. p. 52 (1838). 

 Scolopax solitaria, Macyill. Man. Brit. B. ii. p. 102 (1842, nee Hodgson). 

 Ascalopax major (Gmel.), Keys. u. Bias. Wirb. Eur. p. 78 (1840). 

 Gallinago media (Gerini), Licht. Nomencl. Av. p. 93 (1854). 



The Great Snipe is known to sportsmen by the name of Double Snipe, 

 to distinguish it from the Full Snipe (the Common Snipe) and the Half 

 Snipe (the Jack Snipe). On account of the comparative heaviness of its 

 flight it is sometimes called the Woodcock Snipe ; but why it should so 

 often be called the Solitary Snipe, it is not so easy to explain. It is 

 neither more nor less solitary in its habits than the three other British 

 Snipes. As it must be regarded as a somewhat accidental visitor to our 

 islands, which lie on the outer fringe of its geographical distribution, it is 

 probable that solitary stray birds have been often met with, though, both 

 in its summer- and winter-quarters, a swamp which contains one bird is 

 generally found to be inhabited by several more. 



The Great Snipe appears to have been unknown both to Linnaeus and 

 Brisson, although it was discovered as long ago as 1763, and figured by 

 Frisch in the ' Representations of the Birds of Germany.' It was redis- 

 covered a few years later by Pennant, who described it from an example 

 shot in Lancashire, which was preserved in the Leverian Museum. It can 

 only be regarded as a rare visitor, on spring and autumn migration, to our 

 islands ; but it has occurred in most parts of the country, both on the 

 coast and inland, including the Orkneys, Shetlands, and Ireland. It is 

 said to be much rarer in spring than in autumn ; but when we consider 

 that in the latter season the birds have to run the gauntlet of thousands of 

 guns which are absent in spring, too much importance must not be 

 attached to the paucity of spring records of its capture. 



The geographical distribution of the Great Snipe is a very remarkable 



