50 VARIETIES OF SHOOTING. 



coverts spotted with pale brown on a ground of black, and 

 tipped with white ; tertials barred with pale brown on a 

 black ground; primaries and secondaries dull black, the 

 latter tipped with white ; upper tail coverts barred alter- 

 nately with pale brown and dusky black ; tail feathers four- 

 teen, the front half dull black, varied on the margins with 

 reddish brown, the posterior half of each feather having an 

 oval spot of pale chesnut, and also tipped with the same 

 colour of a still paler shade ; chin brownish white ; cheeks 

 pale brown; ear coverts somewhat darker; sides and front 

 of the neck pale brown, spotted with darker brown ; under 

 parts white ; the sides and flanks being barred with dusky 

 black ; under tail coverts pale yellow brown, barred with 

 greyish black ; legs and toes greenish brown. In summer 

 the old bird has the outer lateral margin of the interscapular 

 and scapular feathers narrow and almost white ; all the parts 

 on the back and wings described as of a pale yellow brown in 

 winter, are now of a reddish brown. The plumage of the 

 two sexes is alike. The young birds have the summer 

 plumage. The length of the snipe averages ten inches and 

 a half, the female being the larger of the two ; beak two 

 inches and three-quarters long. The weight varies a good 

 deal, according to the condition. The end of the beak, when 

 the bird is alive or recently killed} is smooth, soft, and pulpy, 

 but soon after death it becomes dimpled like the end of a 

 thimble. It is a delicate organ of touch, and assists the bird 

 in detecting its food among the slush in which it bores for 

 it. It feeds on worms, insects, small-shelled molluscs, and 

 seeds. 



The JACK SNIPE, JUDCOCK, or GID (Gallinago minima) is 

 distinguished by several peculiarities, being more solitary 

 than the common snipe, and very rarely breeding in Great 

 Britain. It comes over in the middle of September, and 

 leaves in the beginning of April, the numbers being not 

 nearly so great as those of the common species, but far beyond 

 those of the solitary kind. Unlike the common snipe, it 

 makes no scream on being put up from the ground, which it 

 is not easy to do, this bird being remarkable for its sluggish- 

 ness. It feeds on bare boggy ground, but when off the feed, 

 it may be found in sheltered situations among strong rushes 



