120 GRALLATORES. SCOLOPAX. SNIPE. 
amount to twelve, it differs from Scolopar major, which has 
sixteen, and Scolopaa Gallinago, which has fourteen; it 
agrees, however, in this point, with Scolopax Gallinula, which 
also has but twelve; but it can never be confounded with 
that bird, from the great disproportion between the essential 
characters of both: the bill alone of Scolopax Sabini exceed- 
ing that of the latter species by one-third of its length. In 
the relative length and strength of the tarsi it equally differs 
from all. These members, although stouter than those of 
Scolopax Gallinago, fall short of them by ths of an inch; 
they are much weaker, on the other hand, than those of Sco- 
lopax major, although they nearly equal them in length.” 
Such are the characters that distinguish it from all the other 
species of Snipes, and which, independent of the peculiarity 
of plumage, are sufficient to entitle it to rank as specifically 
distinct. Of its general economy I can say nothing; but, 
judging from analogy, it may be inferred that in this point 
it bears a close resemblance to the rest of the genus *. 
Piate 24. Fig. 1. Represents the bird of the natural size, 
taken from the above mentioned specimen, in the mu- 
seum of the Zoological Society. 
ae Head, throat, and neck brownish-black, speckled with ob- 
tion. scure chestnut-brown. Belly and vent brownish-black, 
barred with chestnut-brown. Back and scapulars black, 
with obscure chestnut-brown bars and spots. Under 
wing-coverts brownish-black. ‘The tail consists of twelve 
feathers, the basal half of which are black ; the remaining 
part chestnut-brown, with black fascia. Bill (which is two 
inches and seven-tenths in length) blackish-brown, pass- 
ing into yellowish-brown at the base. Legs and feet 
blackish-grey. Tarsus an inch and a quarter long. 
* Since the above account was put to press, I have received a fresh spe- 
cimen of this rare Snipe from Morpeth, possessing all the characteristics 
of Mr Vieors’s bird. The under parts are perhaps a little darker, having 
fewer bars or undulations of the lighter tint. 
