186 



BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



Kingsbury, and Willesden. Wembley Park used to 

 be a famous place for Cocks. 



The male and female Woodcock closely resemble 

 each other, but may be distinguished by the follow- 

 ing marks, as pointed out by the Eev. Mr. Bree :* 

 11 The front, or outer edge, of the first quill-feather 

 of the cock bird is marked alternately with dark and 

 light spots, of a somewhat triangular shape, while in 

 the hen the corresponding feather is without spots, 

 and, in lieu of these, presents a uniform light- 

 coloured stripe, extending the whole length of the 

 feather." 



SABINE'S SNIPE, Scolopax SabinL It is much 

 disputed whether Sabine's Snipe is a distinct species, 

 or only a variety of the Common Snipe. In support 

 of the latter view, it is asserted that it is not only a 

 rare bird in Britain, but that no locality is known 

 where it is common ; nor have the eggs ever been 

 discovered. On the other hand, if we consider how 

 very much varieties differ inter se, it appears sin- 

 gular that of the comparatively few varieties of the 

 Common Snipe which have been noticed, the ma- 

 jority of them should agree in being of the same 

 dark colour and similarly marked. I have seen 

 five specimens of the so-called Scolopax Sabini : one 

 in the collection of my friend Mr. Knox, of Trotton, 

 Sussex, which was shot on Appledram Common, 



* ' Magazine of Natural History,' vol. iii., p. 147. 



