128 BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 



179. SCOLOPAX MAJOR (Gmelin). Great Snipe. 



I have never met with this species in North 

 Lincolnshire, where it is only known as a very rare 

 visitor. One was shot from a potato-field near the 

 Ashby Decoy in September 1868, during which sea- 

 son they were abundant in some parts of England. 

 Another, recorded by Mr. Boulton (Zoologist, 1864, 

 p. 8890), and which he examined in the flesh, was 

 killed on the river Hull on the 22nd of October, 1863, 

 by Mr. W. Stephenson, of Beverley. The weight of this 

 bird was 8 ounces 2 drachms, the gizzard containing 

 a few seeds and vegetable matter. These, as far as I 

 know, are the only recent occurrences in this district. 

 The general line of flight of the Great Snipe, as well 

 as that of the Grey Phalarope, during their autumn 

 migration, appears almost invariably to cross the 

 east coast south of Lincolnshire. We rarely meet 

 with either north of the Wash. 



180. SCOLOPAX MEDIA (Leach). Common Snipe. 

 Provincial. Full Snipe. 



The deep drainage and high cultivation of the last 

 twenty years have not only broken up the principal 

 haunts of the Snipe, but tended greatly to reduce the 

 number of those which yearly visit us in the autumn 

 and winter. A few pairs still remain to nest in North 

 Lincolnshire. Snipe are most variable both as to 

 their time of arrival and quantity ; in some seasons 

 they visit us in great numbers, in others, without any 



