330 THE BIRDS OF DEVOX. 



drj- ground, and imagined they had assembled there previous to migrating. 

 Tiie Somerset and Dorset Kailway runs through the peat-moor country, 

 and both Jack and full Snipe arc frequently picked up dead, having tlown 

 against the telegraph wires. This must be at night, as a Jack Snipe 

 never flies by day with sufficient velocity to injury itself if it came in 

 collision with anything. 



The nest of the Jack Snipe has never been detected in the United 

 Kingdom. This small species breeds in Lapland, Finmark, and other 

 countries in the north of Europe, and its cgg.s are of gigantic size when 

 viewed in their proportion to the bulk of the bird's body. " While the 

 l)ird weighs two ounces, its four eggs weigh more than an ounce and a 

 half (Dresser). 



The Jack Snipe is a most toothsome morsel, and when served up on its 

 appr()priate toast can be devoured every bit, bones and all ! 



At the nesting-season the Jack Snipe makes a curious sound while 

 flying high in the air, as the common Snipe does when "• dramming," 

 which Mr. Wolley compared to " the cantering of a horse in the distance 

 over a hard, dry road.'' 



Pectoral Sandpiper. Tringa maculata, Vieill. 



An accidental visitor, of extremely rare occurrence. 



The plumage of this Sandpiper somewhat resembles that of a Sky-Lark 

 in its tints. It is well known as an autumn visitor from the extreme 

 north to many parts of ximerica, and is found either singly or in pairs on 

 grassy plains where there are small pools, and as it lies well to dogs is 

 mucli sought after by sportsmen. Un very similar ground a pair were 

 shot by the Itev. Marcus Ilickards, on 12th September, 1871, on the 

 Braunton Burrows in Xorth Devon. We (juote Mr. llickards's account of 

 this interesting occurrence from the ' Zoologist ' (1S71, p. 2808): — "I 

 discovered them on the margin of a large fresh-water pool in a marshy 

 field, and, as they allowed of a near approach, had ample opportunities of 

 observing their movements before putting them up. They presented a 

 peculiar and interesting appearance as they marched about the grass with 

 a very measured and stately walk, occasionally elevating the feathers on 

 the top of the head into the form of a crest, much after the fashion of a 

 Skylark, of gigantic [large, we should prefer to say] specimens of which 

 bird their whole appearance was, strange to say, at a little distance, 

 strikingly suggesti\e, the markings on the breast and general coloration 

 of the plumage helping to complete the similarity. When they rose they 

 uttered a peculiar note, rather weak and feeble for the size of the bird, 

 and reminding me more of the note of the Curlew Sandpiper than that of 

 any other species that I have heard. When flying one was mobbed and 

 pursued by the Swallows which frequented the pond. They never flew to 

 any great distance, and after the female was shot the male described a 

 circle round her, and pitched a short distance off", rising and repeating the 

 evolution as I approached within range." Mr. llickards ascertained the 



