428 Scolopacidce. 



been called to it, there are few counties in England which 

 cannot boast of a Woodcock's nest. In Wiltshire I learn from 

 Mr. C. Penruddocke that its nest is occasionally found in the 

 woods at Compton ; from the Kev. S. L. Sainsbury, Rector of 

 Beckington, that it breeds in some of the covers at Longleat; 

 and I hear that it is strongly suspected to breed within tho 

 precincts of Savernake Forest, though I have no positive infor- 

 mation on this point. The specific name rusticola is a diminutive, 

 meaning ' belonging to the country ' (B.O.U.). In France it is 

 La B&asse; in Germany, Wold Schneppe, ' Wood Snipe;' in Italy, 

 Beccaccia; in Spain, Gallineta, and in some districts Chocha; 

 in Portugal, Gallinhola. 



160. GREAT SNIPE (Scolopax major). 



I have little doubt that this species is often confused with its 

 commoner relative, and mistaken for a large specimen of S. 

 gallinago ; while fine individuals of that bird have undoubtedly 

 in their turn equally been hailed as S. major. Since, however, 

 the attention of naturalists has been directed to the points in 

 which these species differ, the Great Snipe is found to be 

 sparingly scattered over the country every autumn ; and Wilt- 

 shire is one of the counties named by Montagu in which it had 

 then been observed. The late Rev. G. Marsh reported that one was 

 killed in Winterslow Wood in 1831, and he had himself seen a 

 specimen in Christian Malford, though he was not able to obtain 

 it. The Rev. George Powell tells me of one killed in South 

 Wilts in 1854, and of another killed by his brother at Hurd- 

 cott, on the 25th September, 1868 ; and the Rev. A. P. Morres 

 mentions one killed at Pewsey on September 23rd of the same 

 year, which Mr. Grant, who preserved it, tells me weighed 7J oz. 

 Another killed near Hungerford in October, 1874, is recorded by 

 Mr. Grant. 



In 1868, from some unexplained cause, these birds were 

 extraordinarily numerous in many parts of England : and I have 

 notices of one killed on Salisbury Plain, another at Milton, 

 near Pewsey, and of several others on the borders of the county. 



