The Jack Snipe 

 THE JACK SNIPE 



Gallinago gallinula, Linnaeus 



Breeding in the north-western corner of Europe, as far 

 east as Archangel, the Jack Snipe is only a winter visitor 

 to this country, arriving towards the end of October and 

 often not leaving our shores till well on in summer, but 

 there is no authenticated case of its ever having bred with 

 us. In habits it closely resembles the Common Snipe, but 

 lies much closer when being " walked up," and then rising 

 at one's feet goes off at a great pace. It is a more solitary 

 bird than the Common Snipe, and a single individual may 

 often be found for a whole winter in the same spot. 



During the breeding season it "drums" in the same 

 manner as the Common Snipe, the noise having been com- 

 pared to the cantering of a horse on a hard road. The eggs 

 are similar in colour and only very slightly smaller than 

 those of the Common Snipe. 



It may be recognised by its short bill and smaller size, 

 and from its having only twelve instead of fourteen tail 

 feathers. Length *7*5 in.; bill 1/5 in.; wing 4 '2 5 in. 



THE BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 



Limicola platyrhyncha (Temminck) 



This species, although it may sometimes have been over- 

 looked, is a very scarce wanderer to our shores. Nesting 



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