18 COMMON SXIPE. 



Towards the end of March, or beginning of April, the 

 male bird begins to call for a mate. 



The nest is commonly placed in the middle of a tuft of 

 grass, rushes, or heather, in a shallow depression in the surface; 

 by the side of water, as also among the heather where watery 

 spots abound, on the hill side, often at an elevation of from 

 five hundred to a thousand feet above the level of the plain. 

 A few chance stalks furnish its lining, if any be provided 

 at all, which is not always the case. 



The eggs are four in number, and of a very large size 

 in proportion to that of the bird; their colour is pale yellowish, 

 or greenish white, blotted at the larger end with two or 

 three shades of brown. Some are spotted all over with small 

 spots; some are of a clear green ground, some light blue, and 

 others olive brown. Six eggs have several times been found 

 in one nest, as mentioned by the Rev. G-. Low, in his 'Fauna 

 Orcadensis;' but they doubtless must have been the joint 

 contribution of two birds. 



The young leave the nest as soon as hatched, and are taken 

 care of by their parents till able to provide for themselves. 

 They are usually able to fly before the middle of July, but 

 in some seasons not till the middle of August. 



Male; weight, about four ounces; length, from ten and a 

 half or eleven inches and a half, to nearly one foot; the 

 bill, which is at first tender, but becomes harder in fully 

 adult birds, is in the latter of very elegant appearance, three 

 inches in length, long and slender; the lower mandible fits 

 at the tip into the upper one, which somewhat projects over 

 it: the latter is rugose on the surface at the same part. It 

 is of a dark brown colqur, dusky at the point, pale reddish 

 or yellowish brown at the base. From it a dark brown streak 

 runs to the eye; over it and over the eye a pale brown or 

 light ferruginous one. Iris, dusky or dark brown. Head on 

 the sides, spotted with dusky grey, and tinged in winter 

 with ferruginous brown; on the crown, very dark brown, 

 streaked along the centre with whitish or light yellowish 

 chesnut brown. Neck on the sides and in the front, pale 

 brown, spotted in a streak with a darker shade. Chin and 

 throat, white, or nearly white ; breast on the upper part, pale 

 yellowish or ferruginous brown, spotted with dusky grev; 

 below white; on the sides, greyish white, barred with dusky 

 black, or dark brown. Back, dark velvet blackish brown, 



