SOLITARY SNIPE. 45 



GRALLA TORES. SCOLOPA CIDM. 



PLATE CXCL 



SOLITARY SNIPE. 



SCOLOPAX MAJOR. 



The Solitary or Great Snipe is at present more generally 

 met "with in Britain than formerly, or, is at least better 

 known since Pennant pointed out the distinction between 

 this and the common snipe, which latter is the most probable 

 case ; it is not, however, by far so numerous as that species. 



The flesh of this bird is in some respects preferable for 

 the table to that of the common snipe, in consequence of 

 its generally being in much better condition as to fat. 



The geographical distribution of this species does not 

 extend further north than Sweden in Europe ; neither does 

 it appear far north in Asia nor in America, but extends its 

 winter sojourn over the entire Continent of Europe and 

 greater part of Asia, and in America as far as Brazil. 



The locality chiefly sought by this species appears to be 

 low wet meadows and flats, and extensive grassy plains that 

 border lakes and rivers, and that serve more for feeding cattle 

 than for the production of hay, where the ground has, for the 

 most part, been trampled into holes ; in these situations it has 

 still its peculiar spots, namely, where the bright or pale 

 green, rank grasses vegetate, such as the jack-snipe frequents, 

 and which the common snipe does not resort to. 



