128 BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE SNIPE. 



SNITE, OR HEATH ER-BLEATKR. 



(Scolopax GallinagOy Linn. Becassine ordinaire^ 

 Temm.) 



THE Snipe is generally about four ounces in 

 weight, twelve inches in length, and fourteen in 

 breadth. The bill is nearly three inches long; in 

 some pale broAvn, in others greenish yellow, rather 

 flat and dark at the tip, and very smooth in the 

 living bird; but it soon becomes dimpled like the 

 end of a thimble, after the bird is dead: the head 

 is divided lengthwise by three reddish or rusty 

 white lines, and two of black; one of the former 

 passes along the middle of the crown, and one 

 above each eye: a darkish mark is extended from 

 the corners of the mouth nearly to each eye, and 

 the auriculars form spots of the same colour; the 



