JACK. SXIPE. 149 



four eggs, and the old bird sitting on them, in a large swampy bog, about three miles from 

 the old town of Ballyhannis, (county Mayo,) the property of Lord Dillon. The following 

 vear I found two young birds near the village of Kilkelly, in the same county, and also 

 the property of that nobleman. The old bird was first seen fluttering about before the 

 pointers to decoy them from the young. I have found them, I think, in two or three 

 other instances, but cannot fix the time : the above I have noted in a diary I am in 

 the habit of keeping of any remarkable event.' " 



"We know of no other instance on record, where the old bird was found sitting on the 

 eggs; and the eggs of many of the birds of this family are so much alike in size and 

 colour, that a mistake may very easily be made, where the old birds are not seen at 

 the same time. 



The eggs, which are two or three in number, have a ground colour of yellowish olive, 

 spotted with two shades of brown at the thick end. They measure one inch and a quarter 

 in length by ten lines in breadth; and like those of the rest of this family, are large 

 in proportion to the size of the bird. 



In the adult male the bill is dark brown at the point, of a lighter reddish brown colour 

 towards the base, and measures about one inch and a half in length. Irides, dark brown ; 

 over the eye, from the bill to the back of the head, is a broad streak of pale brownish 

 yellow, with a central black line from over the eye to the back of the head. From the 

 bill to the eye, and under it to the back of the head, is a band of dark brown ; forehead 

 and top of head, dark brown ; cheeks, nearly white, at the lower part edged with a narrow 

 line of dark brown; sides of neck and breast, yellowish white, with black markings in 

 the centre of each feather. Back, black, reflecting purple and green; the feathers tipped 

 with white, and with broad margins of pale ochre yellow, which forms four lines along 

 the back; the centre of the feathers mottled with reddish brown. Primaries and 

 secondaries, grayish black; the secondaries tipped with white; tertials, brownish black, 

 mottled with reddish brown, edged with light gray. Tail coverts, brown, with yellow 

 brown edges; tail feathers, twelve in number, blackish brown, with pale reddish brown 

 edges; lower breast, belly, and under parts, pure white; axillary feathers, white, marked 

 with gray. Legs and toes, greenish gray; claws, black. 



It would appear, however, that the colour of the legs sometimes varies, probably 

 dependent upon age. Mr. TV. Thompson, when passing a shop in Belfast, where a number 

 of Jack Snipes were exposed for sale, on the 28th. of January, 1837, saw "one with 

 flesh-coloured legs and toes; and on inspection of the whole lot, found the legs varying 

 from the ordinary greenish gray, to a decided flesh-colour; those exhibiting the latter 

 were supposed to be the young of the year. In other respects the birds seemed alike, 

 but the plumage had received too rough usage to be properly examined." The ordinary 

 colour of the legs, however, is, as above stated, greenish gray. 



