302 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



In South America there are several species of 

 snipe, some of which (as G. frenata and G. 

 paraguaycB) so closely resemble our own bird and 

 Wilson's Snipe in colour and size, that to the majority 

 of shooters they appear indistinguishable ; while 

 others (as GalHnago imperialis, jamesoni, strick- 

 landi, undulata, and gigantea) are so conspicuous by 



TAIL FEATHERS OF THE GREAT SNIPE. 



their larger size and varying plumage as at once to 

 attract attention. 



The largest known Snipe is GalHnago gigantea, a 

 native of Brazil and Paraguay. It is about double 

 the size of our bird, being 19 in. in length (instead 

 of 10 in.), with a bill of 5 in. instead of 2.8 in., wing 

 6.6 in. instead of 5.3 in., and leg 2.25 in. instead of 

 1.3 in. 



