154 SABINE'S SNIPE. 



following account of its capture to Mr. Thompson : — "I shot it at the end of November, 

 or beginning of December, 1827, about a mile from Garvagh, county of Londonderry, on 

 the side of a high heathery hill rising from a large flow, or uncut turf bog: Common 

 Snipes were rising at the same place. The bird was tame, and did not squeak like the 

 generality of Snipes, and, at first, in consequence of its dark colour, I took it for a 

 Water-Kail. Being rather too anxious, I fired three times before killing it; after each 

 of the first two shots, it pitched quite near again, like the Jack Snipe." In all, Mr. 

 Thompson has collected records of ten of these birds being shot in Ireland ; they occurred 

 in Westmeath, King's County, Clare, Tipperary, and Kerry. It is stated by Mr. Watters, 

 who published in 1853, that "fourteen authenticated instances" had then "occurred in 

 various counties (in Ireland,) during autumn and winter. In the fine collection of birds 

 in the University Museum, as many as four of these rare Snipe are preserved, all of 

 which were obtained by the assiduity of Dr. R. Ball, who collected them. In the 

 course of Mr. B. Glennon's practice, he has preserved no less" than six of this species, 

 which were familiarly known to the person who obtained them, as 'Black Snipe.' " 



Of one shot near Clonmel, Mr. R. Davis, Jim., of Clonmel, gives the following 

 account in the "Zoologist:" — "I have just received a specimen of Sabine's Snipe; it 

 was shot on the 31st. of last month, (August,) in a bog near New Birmingham, about 

 sixteen miles from this place, by J. Morton, Esq., of this town. It was in company 

 with a Common Snipe, and rose with it. Its cry was similar to that of the Common, 

 and but for this cry it would have escaped, being, on first rising, mistaken for a 

 Water-Rail, and allowed to go a considerable distance. It appears to be a male bird, 

 and was moulting. Yarrell says the tail consists of twelve feathers, and that two of 

 the toes are united for a short distance; in this specimen they are divided to the 

 origin, and the tail now consists of thirteen feathers ; some grains of shot passed through 

 these, and probably cut away another feather. I have preserved the skin." 



In England it has occurred only four or five times — once near Rochester; again some- 

 where near London; twice in Hampshire. Of one of these, Mr. B. L. Sclater, of 

 Hoddiugton House, Odiham, says, that "in looking over a collection of stuffed birds, at 

 a gamekeeper's near here, I found a specimen of Sabine's Snipe, (S. Sabini,) which he 

 considered to be a 'Black Snipe,' and merely a variety. I told him to keep the bird 

 for me, but when I went again for it, it was gone. He said he shot it on Basing 

 Moor," in Hampshire. Once near Morpeth, in Northumberland : this last was, we believe, 

 shot by Mr. Selby. 



It has not been recorded as occurring in Scotland. 



It is a very curious fact, that rare as this bird is in this country, it is totally unknown 

 on the European continent, or elsewhere: we are consequently without any information 

 as to its nest or eggs, and the locality where incubation is effected. A conjecture was 



