JACK SNIPE. 61 



annually breed in Lieflancl and Finland, making a nest on a 

 grassy knoll like the common Snipe, and laying four eggs, 

 which are in size and colour as represented in our plate. 



The entire length of the Jack Snipe is eight inches 

 six lines ; the beak measures an inch and three-quarters. 

 The crown of the head is black, the feathers edged with 

 rufous brown. From the beak extends a cream-coloured band 

 over the eye, down the nape. Between the beak and eye is 

 a space of wood-brown. The cheeks white, with the tips of 

 the feathers black, forming a mixture of middle tint. The 

 throat is white ; lower part of the neck and the breast wood- 

 brown, tinged with grey, and spotted with dusky. The back 

 and inner webs of the scapulars black, reflecting olive and pur- 

 ple ; the scapular feathers are long and narrow, and their outer 

 webs are of a rich cream yellow, thereby producing two bands 

 of that colour down the back. The wing-coverts are black, 

 the feathers edged with wood-brown and white. The tail is 

 dusky, edged with very pale rufous. Belly and vent white. 

 The legs and toes are pearl grey, with a greenish tinge. The 

 beak is dusky, darkest at the tip, and flesh- coloured at the 

 base, with a bloom of grey. The eye is dusky. 



The egg figured 194 is that of the Jack Snipe. 



