SNIPE. § 4i1 
SNIPE.—SCOLOPAX GALLINAGO?—F «. 191. 
La Beccassine, Briss. v. 298, pl. 26, fig. 1.— Lath. Syn. iii. 134, 
SCOLOPAX WILSON —Temurxcx.* 
Scolopax Wilsonii, Temm. Pl. Col. Note to description of S. Gigantea. — Bonap. 
Synop. p. 330. — Monog. del Gen. Scolopax Osserv. Sulla, 2d edit. Del. Reg. 
Anim. p. 120. — Scolopax Brehmii, Bonap. Observ. on Nomencl. 
Tus bird is well known to our sportsmen; and, if not the same, has 
a very near resemblance to the Common Snipe of Europe. It is usu- 
ally known by the name of the English Snipe, to distinguish it from 
the Woodcock, and from several others of the same genus. It arrives 
* Five or six species of Snipes are so much allied in the colors and general 
marking of the plumage, that a very narrow examination is often necessary for 
their determination ; from this reason, the birds from America, Asia, and the Indian 
continent, were considered as identical, and a much wider geographical range allot- 
ted to the European Snipe than it was generally patted to. Wilson had some 
doubts of this bird being the same with the European Snipe, as he marks his name 
with a query, and observed the difference in the number of tail-feathers. Bona- 
parte observed the difference as soon as his attention was turned to the ornithology 
of America, and, about the same time, a new Snipe was described by Mr. Kaup, 
in the Isis, as found occasionally, in cold winters, in the north of Germany. The 
Prince of Musignano, on' comparing this description with the American ‘species, 
from their very close alliance, judged them identical; while, in the mean time, 
Temminck, comparing both together, perceived distinctions, and dedicated that of 
America to her own ornithologist —an opinion which Bonaparte afterwards con- 
firmed, and adopted in his monograph of that genus. 
Mr. Swainson has introduced a Snipe, which he thinks is distinct, killed on the 
Rocky Mountains, and named by him S. Drummondii ; and another, killed on the 
Columbia, which he calls 8. Douglasti. The first “is common in the Fur Coun- 
tries up to lat. 65°, and is also found in the recesses of the Rocky Mountains. It is 
intermediate in size between the S. major and gallinago ; it has a much longer bill 
than the latter, and two more tail-feathers. Its head is.divided by a pale central 
stripe, as in S. gallinula and major; its dorsal plumage more distinctly striped 
than that of the latter; and the outer tail-feather is a quarter of an inch shorter than 
that of S. Dowglasii.” The latter, in Ir. Swainson’s collection, has the tail of six- 
teen feathers, not narrowed, all banded with ferruginous, except the outer pair, 
which are paler; total length, eleven and a half inches. ; 
Most of the Snipes partially migrate in their native countries and some perform 
a regular distant migration. Such is the case with the S. gc. linula of Europe. 
The American species is a winter visitant in the Northern St tes, and will most 
probably breed farther to the south, without leaving the country. In India, the 
Snipes move according to the supply of water in the tanks, and, at the season when 
they are comparatively dry, leave that district entirely. In this country, although 
many breed in the mosses, we have a large accession of numbers about the middle 
of September, both from the wilder high grounds, and from the continent of Europe 5 
and lesa, according to the weather, change their stations during the whole winter. 
Their movements are commenced generally about twilight, when they fly high, sur- 
veying the country as they pass, and, one day, may be found in abundance on the 
highest moorland ranges, while, the next, they have removed to some low and shel- 
tered glade or marsh. In this we have a curious instance of that instinctive 
knowledge which causes so simultaneous a change of station in a single night. By 
close observation, during the winter months, it may be regularly perceived, some- 
times even daily, and some change certainly takes place before and after any sud- 
den variation of weather. — Ep. 
