GREAT, COMMON, <& JACK SNIPE. 113 



Site. In a slight hollow, sheltered by long grass, bracken, 

 and the like, in sequestered woods. 



Materials. If any, a few leaves, grasses, or fern-fronds. 



Eggs. Four. Pale drab-yellow or stone-colour, spotted and 

 blotched rather sparingly with light yellowish brown, umber- 

 brown, and ash-grey. Not very pyriform in shape. 



GREAT SNIPE (Gallinago major). 



A regular autumn visitor in small numbers usually young 

 birds. Generally observed in the east and south of England. 

 In appearance it is like a larger edition of the Common Snipe 

 (next described), and in habits much resembles it, but its flight 

 is heavier, slower, and less erratic. 



COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago 



Resident ; but many migrants arrive in winter. Fairly well 

 distributed, breeding most abundantly in Norfolk, Suffolk, Lin- 

 colnshire, Scotland, and Ireland. 



Haunts. Marshy and fenny districts. 



Plumage. Upper parts mottled with black and chestnut- 

 brown. Flanks whitish, barred with dusky ; under parts white. 

 Bill long and brown, darker at tip. Legs and feet greenish 

 brown. Length 10 in. Female similar. Young altogether 

 duller. Nestling covered with chestnut-brown down above, 

 mottled with black and grey ; greyish brown below. 



Language. The well-known and curious drumming, which 

 may be partly vocal and partly produced by the wings and tail. 

 Also another sharp cry, two or three times repeated, like 

 " scape." 



Habits. Feeds like the Woodcock. At pairing time the 

 male practises his curious aerial performances, rising to some 

 considerable height, then hurling himself earthwards with 

 tremendous velocity, all the time drumming or bleating. 

 When flushed, it flies off in a rapid, erratic, zigzagging 

 fashion. 



Food. Worms, insects, &c. 



Nest. April or May. Sometimes two broods. 



Site. Among rank aquatic herbage on boggy land. 



Materials. A few leaves and stalks. 



Eggs. Four. Pale olive, spotted and blotched with rich 

 dark brown, other shades of brown, and purplish grey. Pyri- 

 form shape. 



JACK SNIPE (Gallinago gallinula). 



A winter visitor, but much less common than the last. 

 Fairly well distributed in suitable places. 



