5^ 



GEEAT on SOLITARY SNIPE. 



SCO LOP AX MAJOR, J. F. Gmelin. 



Scolopax majoi'j Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 661 (1788) ; Naum. 



viii. p. 291 ; Macg. iv. p. 364 ; Hewifson, ii. p. 351. 

 Galliuago major, Yan: ed. 4, iii. p. 336 ; Dresser, vii. p. 631. 



Grande Becassine, French ; Dojjpel Schnepfe or Grosse 

 Schnepfe, German ; Ayachadizu real, Spanish. 



Although, of course, the title of " Great " is only 

 locally applicable to this species, I prefer that epithet 

 to the more common one of " Solitary," and consider 

 that if the latter distinction is bestowed upon any 

 British Snipe it is the Jack-Snipe that obviously has 

 the first claim thereunto. I imagine, however, that the 

 term " Solitary " was originally applied to the present 

 bird either on account of its scarcity in our country 

 or because it is seldom, if ever, found in " wisps " or 

 flocks as our Common Snipe so frequently is. In 

 places where the last-named species is abundant the 

 word " Double " is frequently used to distinguish this 

 species ; but this is only a Snipe-shooter's term, and 

 even less truthfully applicable than " Solitary." The 

 Great Snipe cannot be considered otherwise than as 



