114 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



colour., Length, from bill to end of tail, fourteen 

 inches. 



Female. — Larger, but similar in colour. 



THE GREAT SNIPE. 

 {Gallinago major.) 



Male. — The bill is yellowish-brown at the base, 

 dusky towards the end ; the iris brown. Two 

 lengthened blackish-brown bands are on the head, 

 slightly marked with light red, separated by a narrow 

 middle line of reddish-white ; and on each side is a 

 yellowish-white band. The chin is pale yellowish- 

 brown, neck pale brown, each feather darker in the 

 centre. Upper parts variegated with black and 

 light red, with four lengthened yellowish-black 

 feathers tipped with pale brown ; larger coverts 

 black, tipped with white. The secondaries are 

 largely tipped with white, quills greyish-black, the 

 shafts white ; tail brownish-black, banded with chest- 

 nut red and black ; the outer feathers on each side 

 white. Middle of breast and belly brownish-white 

 barred with brown ; sides waved with dusky and 

 pale brown ; legs and feet pale bluish - green 

 Length, from bill to end of tail, twelve inches. 



The female is similar to the male. 



THE COMMON SNIPE. 

 {Gallinago cmlestis.) 



Male. — The bill greyish-blue at the base, dusky 

 at the end, a part of the ridge flesh-coloured ; iris 



