304 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



moors in summer, which on inquiry turn out to be 

 DunHng {Tringa alpina). Thus it is that the long 

 bill, long legs, and sharp-pointed wings are con- 

 sidered as indicating affinity to the Snipes in the 

 great family Scolopacidce, while the true Snipes may 

 be always recognised by the peculiar colouration of 

 the dorsal region, as well as by the delicately 

 sentient bill. This is not only long, slender, and 

 flexible, but also enlarged towards the extremity, 

 and has numerons nervous filaments under the 

 cuticle which, on becoming dry, cause it to look 

 curiously pitted. This peculiarly-formed bill is 

 especially suited to enable the owner of it to feel 

 and seize its food beneath the surface when unable 

 to see it, a remarkable adaptation of structure to 

 habit. 



Not a bad way of identifying the different 

 species of Snipe is to examine and compare their 

 tail feathers. It will be seen from the few examples 

 here selected for illustration that there is consider- 

 able variation not only in the pattern, but also in 

 the shape and number of the tail feathers. I have 

 made choice of four species which are most easily 

 obtainable, in order that my readers may be able to 

 secure specimens and examine for themselves. It 

 may be new to some people to find such a difference 

 in shape in the tail feathers of the Jack Snipe as 

 compared with those of the common species, while 

 those who have never handled an example of the 

 Pintail Snipe will see at a glance what an excellent 

 distinguishing feature is afforded in the case of 

 species which in other respects are very similar. 



