484 



SCOLOPAX. 



have caused the line of migration to and from their more recently annexed breeding- 

 grounds to be remarkably circuitous. 



SCOLOPAX GALLINAGO. 



COMMON SNIPE. 



Diagnosis. 



Synonymy. 



Scolopax rectricibus quatuordecim aut sedecim, quarum externa? vix attenuate (lat. 8 ad 10 

 millim.) et vix albo notatse sunt : rostro medio (long. 60 ad 75 millim.) : tibiarum parte 

 extreina (circ. 10 millim.) denudata. 



Variations. The Common Snipe is a very variable species, as will hereafter appear, when it is compared 

 with the North- American Snipe, which may fairly be regarded as only subspecifically 

 distinct from it. 



In addition to these variations, the Common Snipe is also subject to other variations 

 of a more abnormal character. As is probably the case with nearly every species of bird, 

 white or cream-coloured varieties are occasionally met with. Sabine's Snipe appears to be 

 a partial melanism ; and Brehm's Snipe has the outer tail-feathers elongated, so as to be as 

 long or even longer than the central ones. These peculiarities are generally regarded as 

 monstrosities, and are not known to be distinctive of the Snipes of any special locality ; but 

 there can be little doubt that, like many other diseases, they are more or less hereditary. 



Scolopax gallinago, Linneus, Syst. Nut. i. p. 147 (1758) ; Brisson, Orn. v. p. 298 (1760) ; Linn. 



Syst. Nat.i. p. 244 (1766). 

 Scolopax ccelestis, Frenzel, Beschr. Vog. u. Eier Wittenb. p. 58 (1801). 

 Scolopax sakhalina, Vieillot, N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. iii. p. 359 (1817). 





