SNIPE. iji 



often taken. Thefe birds are found alfo in the warmer parts of 

 Europe, as well as Africa and Afia; in France, Italy, Greece, and 

 Barbary ; on the Gold Coaft, and that of Guinea ■, as well as in 

 China and Japan : in thefe places inhabit the plains in the win- 

 ter, retiring in fummer to the fummit of the highefl: mountains 

 to breed. To the north inhabit Sweden and RuJJia throughout, 

 and Kamtfchatka, as well as Iceland; hence a general inhabitant of 

 the old continent, and its ifles. Few need be told that its flefh 

 is delicious, and much fought after; and, that nothing may- 

 be loft, the entrails are not drawn out, being thought a necef- 

 fary appendage as fauce to the bird. 



It makes an artlefs kind of nefl on the ground, ccmpofed of 

 a few dried fibres and leaves, generally againft an old flump, or 

 great root of a tree : the eggs four or five in number, rather 

 bigger than thofe of a Pigeon, of a rufous grey, marked with 

 dufky blotches : the young run as foon as hatched, but, as they 

 cannot immediately provide for themfelves, the male and female 

 accompany them for fome time. 



We have obferved three varieties : in the firft, the head of a Varieties. 

 pale red: body white: wings brown. The fecond, of a dun, or 

 rather cream-colour: and the laft, of a pure white. Specimens 

 of which may be feen in the Leverian Mufeum, and in the col- 

 lection of Mr. 'Tunftall. 



Little "Woodcock, JrB. Zooh p. 463. , .__, *?* „^_ 



' w „ LITTLE WOOD- 



Lev. Muf. COCK. 



^ENGTH eleven inches and a half. Bill two inches and a Description. 

 half long, the under mandible much the fhorteft : forehead 

 cinereous: hind part black, with four tranfverfe yellowifti bars: 



S 2 from 



