SNIPE. GRALLATORES. SCOLOPAX. 117 
from North America; but I have never obtained it from 
that country, nor does Witson, or any other American or- 
nithologist, include it in the list of birds belonging to that 
quarter of the globe. The Snipe common to that country, 
long supposed to be Scolopax Gallinago, is now ascertained 
to be a distinct species. 
The Great Snipe breeds in marshes, selecting a tolerably 
dry spot near to some standing water, and the materials of 
the nest, which are scanty, are collected from the decayed 
grasses and water-plants immediately around. The four 
egos which it lays are very similar to those of the Common 
Snipe, being (according to the authors who have described 
them) of a yellowish. white, or very pale oil-green, blotched 
with dark brown. As a delicacy, its flesh is in high estima- 
tion, being equal, if not superior, to that of the common 
species. 
Piate 23. Fig. 2. Represents this bird of the natural size, 
from a very perfect specimen killed near Twizell in Oc- 
tober 1822, and which weighed nearly nine ounces. 
Bill of a pale brown colour, inclining to flesh-red at the 
base, with the tip blackish-brown. Between the bill 
and eyes is a narrow streak of rich chestnut-brown. 
Crown of the head blackish-brown, with a few specks 
of reddish-brown, with a central streak of cream-colour- 
ed white. Eye streak, cheeks, and throat, cream-yel- 
low, finely speckled with brown. Hind part of the 
neck pale ochreous yellow, spotted with brown. Fore 
part of the neck yellowish-white, with large angular 
brown spots. Back brownish-black, varied with pale 
chestnut-brown ; the outer webs of the feathers having 
a broad yellowish-white margin. Shoulders and sca- 
pulars yellowish-brown, and on each feather a large 
black bar near the tip, and the outer webs with white 
edges. ‘Tertials barred with black, and margined with 
a double line of black and yellowish-white. Lesser 
wing-coverts marbled with black and yellowish-brown, 
Nest, &c. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
