WOODCOCK AND SNIPE. 501 
The members of this group, while agreeing with those of the 
last in the longitudinal black markings on the head, are characterised 
by the number of tail-feathers never exceeding sixteen, by a considerable portion 
of the tibia being bare, and by the total absence of bars on the inner webs of the 
primary quills. Of these, the great snipe (S. major), which has sixteen tail-feathers, 
and measures from 103 to 114 inches in length, is characterised by the greater 
portion of the four outer tail-feathers on each side being white, and by the broad 
white tips to the median tail-coverts. A rare straggler during (chiefly autumnal) 
migration to the British Islands, the great snipe breeds in Northern and some parts 
of South-Eastern Europe, and as far eastwards as the valley of Yenisei, while in 
winter the majority sojourn in South Africa. Hastwards of the Yenisei its place 
is taken by Swinhoe’s snipe (S. megala), which belongs to the preceding group, 
having twenty tail-feathers. The best 
known member of the whole group is the 
common snipe (S. galinago), some of the 
leading features of which have been 
already alluded to on p. 498. This 
species, Which attains a length of 104 
inches, is, however, characterised by 
possessing fourteen tail-feathers, by the 
breast being marked with longitudinal 
dark streaks, and by the axillaries being | 
white, more or less marked with grey. 
The breeding-range of the common snipe 
comprises Northern and Central Europe 
as far as the Arctic Ocean, and south- 
wards to the Alps and Southern Russia, 
while eastwards it extends through 
Siberia and Turkestan to South-Eastern 
Mongolia. In winter the birds from the 
northern portion of this extensive area 
spread themselves over the countries on both sides of the Mediterranean, Persia, 
India, Ceylon, Burma, China, and the Philippines. In North America this species 
is replaced by a variety known as Wilson’s snipe, in the typical form of which 
the beak is shorter, and the tail-feathers sixteen in number, while the axillaries 
are barred with brown, and the breast is marked with transverse bars. Inter- 
mediate forms, however, completely connect the two races; these being frequently 
met with in India. The breeding-area of Wilson’s snipe extends from the Arctic 
Circle to the northern United States; while in winter the species ranges to central 
and northern South America. The last species to which we can allude is the jack- 
snipe (S. gallinula), which is a common winter visitor to Britain, and is characterised 
by its small size (length, 74 inches), its twelve tail-feathers, the purple gloss on 
the feathers of the upper-parts, and the metallic green hue of the inner webs of 
the scapulars. 
Undergoing but slight seasonal variation in plumage, snipe are to be found at 
all times of the year among the protection afforded by the sedge, grass, or other 
Typical Snipe. 



COMMON SNIPE. 
