142 BIRDS OF GUERNSEY. 



it off for dinner, but, from some of the descriptions 

 I have had given me of these fine big Snipes, I 

 have no doubt it has occasionally been a Solitary 

 Snipe. Mr. MacCulloch also writes me word that 

 the Solitary Snipe occasionally occurs. 



It is included in Professor Ansted's list, and 

 marked by him as occurring in Guernsey and 

 Sark. There is no specimen at present in the 

 Museum. 



120. SNIPE. Gallinago gallinaria, Gmelin. 

 French, " Becassine ordinaire." The Common 

 Snipe is a regular and rather numerous autumnal 

 visitant to all the Islands, remaining through the 

 winter and departing again in the spring, some few 

 remaining rather late into the summer. I am very 

 sceptical myself about the Snipe breeding in the 

 Channel Islands in the present day, although I was 

 told one or two were seen about Mr. De Putron's 

 pond late this summer, and were supposed to be 

 breeding there ; however, I could see nothing of 

 them when there in June and July, although, as I 

 have said before, Mr. De Putron kindly allowed me 

 to search round his pond for either birds or eggs. 

 Mr. MacCulloch, however, thinks they still breed in 

 Guernsey, as he writes to me to say, " I believe 

 that Snipes continue to breed here occasionally; 

 I have heard of them, and put them up myself in 

 summer." If they do, I should think the most 



