WILSON'S SNIPE. 575 



This bird is the commonest of the sea-loving Sandpipers, and comes to the shores in large 

 flocks, keeping close to the edge of the waves, running along the sands and pecking eagerly at 

 the mollusks, worms, and smaller Crustacea, which are so plentiful on the margin of the 

 retiring waves. They are nimble-limbed birds, always on the move, and are sure to be either 

 engaged in running about after food or flying from one feeding-place to another. While 

 flying they present rather a curious aspect, as they seem to change from white to black 

 alternately, according to the point of view in which they are seen ; their dark backs and 

 white under surfaces contrasting boldly with each other. 



The Dunlin is occasionally found in America, and a variety is resident, called Black- 

 bellied, and also Red-backed Sandpiper. It is found along the whole Atlantic coast. It 

 migrates, wintering in the States, and breeds far north. It has been found as far west as 

 Leavenworth. Wilson says the name is Gray-back with sportsmen, and that it is a particular 

 favorite with them. It associates in small flocks, alighting in close bodies together on the 

 flats, where it finds small mollusca to feed upon. It is less timid than other species, standing 

 unconcernedly for a time on the approach of the sportsman. In November it migrates for the 

 South. The length of body is ten inches, extent of wing twenty inches. The sexes are alike 

 in general appearance. 



The Great Snipe may even on the wing be distinguished from the common species, by 

 the peculiar, fan-like shape of the tail. While flying it hardly looks larger than the common 

 Snipe. It is not readily roused from the ground, but will permit itself to be almost trodden 

 on before it will rise, trusting to its brown mottled plumage, which harmonizes so well with 

 the ground that the bird is not readily perceived. When flushed, it only flies to a little dis- 

 tance, and then settles among heather or rank grass. The flesh of this species is very good, 

 as the bird becomes exceedingly fat when it finds a good feeding-place, so much so, indeed, 

 that it can hardly fly, and, according to Mr. Grieff, is in autumn so fat that it almost bursts 

 its skin. 



The Common Snipe is too well known to need much description. Its habits, however, 

 are interesting, and deserve some notice. 



This bird may be seen all over Europe, wherever damp and swampy places are found. 

 When first flushed, it shoots off in a straight line for a few yards and then begins to twist and 

 turn in a strangely zigzag fashion, and at last darts away, thereby puzzling juvenile sportsmen 

 greatly, and often escaping before its enemy has got his aim. 



The nest of the Snipe is a simple heap of leaves placed under the shelter of a tuft of furze, 

 heath, or grass, and the eggs are four in number of an olive-white, spotted and dashed with 

 brown of different tones towards and upon the large end. The mother-bird has been known 

 to carry away her young when threatened by danger. 



The coloring of the Common Snipe is briefly as folloAvs : The top of the head is dark 

 brown : a light brown streak runs along the centre ; the cheeks are pale brown with a dark streak 

 from the bill to the eye, and over the dark streak is another of a paler hue. The back is 

 beautifully mottled with two shades of brown, and four bold lines of warm buff run along the 

 upper surface of the body. The wings are black, some of the feathers being tipped with 

 white. The chin is very pale brown, the neck is also light brown, but spotted with a darker 

 hue ; the breast and abdomen are white, and the flanks gray- white with dull black bars. The 

 under tail-coverts are cream-colored with a brown tinge and barred with gray-black. The 

 average length of the Snipe is between ten and eleven inches. 



The English Snipe is the name this bird bears in America, as it is an occasional visitor here. 



Wilson's Snipe (Zallinago wilsoni) is now regarded as a variety of the preceding. Its 

 range is throughout the whole of North America, and southward to South America, Mexico, 

 and the West Indies. It breeds from northern New England northward. It is a migrant 

 through the region of the Missouri, though it is thought that some winter in the southern 

 portions. 



