SNIPE. 



*35 



dufky ; the edge of the firft, and tips of the fecondaries, white j 

 and thofe next the back barred with black and pale red : breaft 

 and belly white : tail coverts long, of a reddiih brown, and al- 

 moft cover the tail, which confiits of fourteen feathers, black on 

 their lower part, then croffed with a bar of deep orange, another 

 narrow one of black, and the ends white or pale orange : the vent 

 of a dull yellow : legs pale green : toes divided to their origin. 



We fcarce know of any bird which is fo univerfally fpread Place. 



over the furface of the globe as this fpecies ; being mentioned 

 by mod voyagers, as well as brought into England from fuch 

 variety of places. It is ken throughout the old continent from 

 the arctic regions of Sihiria to the Cape of Good Hope, at which 

 laft place it is pretty common. It alfo inhabits the iflands of 

 Ceylon and Japan. In America it is met with almoft without ex- 

 ception, particularly in South Carolina, where it fwarms *. I have 

 alfo feen a fpecimen which came from Cayenne, and been in- 

 formed that it is likewife at Surinam. I have received it myfelf 

 from Jamaica. Said to be extremely common in Falkland 

 Iflands, even more fo than in England f . 



With us it disappears as the fpring advances; but we have Manners. 

 juft reafon to fuppofe that the whole of them do not depart 

 England, the neft being frequently found in the fens and marfhes 

 in many parts of this kingdom J. The neft is compofed of dried 

 plants, with a few feathers. The eggs, four or five in number, 



* Ar3. Zool. 



t Penrc/e Hifi. Falkland IJ1. p- 36. — Bong. Voy. — Cook's laft Voy. i. p. 15 I. 



X Both this and the Jack Snij>e are to be found the whole year through in 

 Cumberland. Dr. TJeyJham. — In the fens of Lincolnjlrire, Wolmar Foreft, Bodmyn 

 Dozvns. Barring. Mi/c. p. 21 1. — I have been informsd that it breeds in feveralof 

 the iflets, called Aytes, of the river Thames. 



9 oblong, 



