126 BRITISH BIRDS. 



SABINE'S SNIPE. 



(Scolopax Sab in iii Vigors. Becassine Sabine^ 

 Temm.) 



THE bill, from the tip to the brow, is about two 

 inches and five-eighths long: the whole plumage 

 is composed of black, brown, and ferruginous; each 

 feather tipped, edged, spotted, and crossed with the 

 latter colour, which predominates on the cheeks, 

 neck, and upper parts of the breast : on the sides oj 

 the head, the feathers are also very slightly fringed 

 in small dots of that colour: the ears are nearly on 

 a line with the corners of the mouth: in this 

 respect, as well as in the general contour of its 

 figure, it bears a resemblance to the Woodcock, 

 but its bill is much longer in proportion to the size 

 of the bird. It is feathered nearly to the knees; 

 the legs short, toes long, and without any connect- 

 ing web or membrane between them : they appear 



