97 



n 



assertion of experienced fowlers ; but we must admit that others declare none are taken at this 

 season. It must, however, be recollected that in the autumn the characteristic long feathers 

 have been discharged, and consequently young and old males have equally their plain dress ; but 

 the person who assured us that old male birds were sometimes taken at that season, declared it 

 was easy to distinguish them from the young of that summer." 



The nest of the present species is placed on the ground in a swampy locality, usually rather 

 far from the hills where the males assembled than near to these ; and the females, or Reeves, do 

 not breed in colonies. The nest resembles that of the Redshank ; and, like that bird, it usually 

 hides its nest with some care. The eggs, four (or sometimes only three) in number, are in 

 general character not unlike those of the common Snipe, but are larger and more richly marked. 

 The ground-colour is pale olivaceous on stone-buff; and the surface-markings, which are large, 

 and are most diffused about the larger end, are rich umber-brown, there being also a few purplish 

 grey or pale brown shell-spots. In size those in my collection vary from lf^ by 1-fe to 1-f-g- by 

 1 ■£$ inch. I have seen large Reeve's eggs doing duty in some collections for those of the Double 

 Snipe : but a practised eye can at once detect them ; for the markings are somewhat different, and 

 they are rather greener in general coloration than the eggs of the Double Snipe. 



The food of the present species consists of insects and insect-larva? of various kinds, grass- 

 hoppers, worms, &c. &c. ; and it resembles the Peewit not a little both in the nature of its food 

 and the mode of procuring it. It is a greedy feeder, and soon accustoms itself to vegetable food 

 when kept in confinement, and becomes very tame. 



The specimens figured are : — on the one Plate the males in full summer dress, showing 

 different varieties in coloration of the ruff; and on the second Plate the female and young in 

 down. As the male in winter dress differs so little from the female, except in size, I have not 

 deemed it necessary to figure it. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, 2 ad, b, c, 6 juv., d, $ juv. Pagham, Sussex, September 12th, 1871 {A. Grant). e,f, rf ad. Jutland, spring 

 of 1863. g,juv. Boel, Jutland, 1867 (A Benzon). h, ?. Jokstuen, Norway, June 9th, 1872 {Collett). 

 i,k,l,m,d. Archangel, spring (Piottuch). n, 6 . Archangel, May 3rd, 1874. o,6. May 23rd, 1876 

 (Piottuch). p,q, <S 2. Central Russia, 1868 (Sabanaeff). r,s,6 ? . Darjeeling, India, winter ( Whitely) . 



E Mus. C. A. Wright 



a, 6 . Malta, May 26th, 1865 (C. A:W.). b, $ . Malta, April 23rd, 1869 (C. A. W.). c, ?,«?,$ . May 14th, 

 1869 (C. A. W.). c, ?,/, ? . Malta, May 27th, 1869 (C. A. W.). 



E Mus. G. C. Taylor, 

 a, b, c, d, e,f, g, h, ij, k, I, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z, aa, 6. Leadenhall Market, spring plumage 

 (G. C. T.). 



