198 SNIPE. 



of the sportsman's foot, and after flying to a small distance, again 

 shelters itself. It appears with ns later than the Common Species, 

 and not known to remain here during the summer.* 



It inhabits Europe as far north as 80 deg. 27 miri.f In Germany 

 far from common ; but said to breed there, as also in some parts of 

 France. Is found also in Italy and Spain ; where it is, in some 

 seasons, in greater numbers than the Common Species. I cannot for 

 certain trace it farther than Aleppo, in Syria; J for although Kolben 

 talks of several sorts of Snipes, at the Cape of Good Hope, he has 

 by no means ascertained the species. We have, too, seen some 

 very similar in Indian drawings, but still appearing indecisive. It 

 is certainly in North America ; and according to Fermi n, in Surinam. || 

 Is said to lay four or five yellow green eggs, spotted with brown, 

 making the nest among the rushes. The flesh is thought to be 

 excellent. 



9— CAPE SNIPE — Pl. clii. 



MALE. 



Scolopax Capensis, Ind. Orn. ii. 716. Lin. i. 240. Gm. Lin. i. 666. Lin. Trans. 



xiii. 327. 

 Gallinago Capitis Bona? Spei, Bris. App. 141. t. 6. Id. Svo. ii. 28S. 

 La Becassine du Cap de B. Esp. Buf. vii. 494. PI. enl. 270. 



* Comes generally the end of November, and departs sometimes as late as the 19th of 

 April. — Lin. Trans, i. 123. But Dr. Heysham has found this, as well as the Common 

 Snipe, in Cumberland, throughout the year. 



f Phypps mentions a low flat Isle off Waygats, which abounds with a small Snipe, 

 similar to the Jack-Snipe in England. See Voy. p. 53. J Russ. Alep. p. 65. 



|| Hist. Surin. ii. 1S9. 190. He talks there of a large and small Snipe ; the first is 

 rufous, black and ash-colour, mixed; breast and belly ash-colour ; smaller than the Par- 

 tridge; flies slowly, but runs quick. The small one he describes much like ours; and says 

 they are seen by thousands on the sea shores ; that it must be a bad marksman that does not 

 kill sixty at once, with fine shot ; and that he has killed S5 with a single charge. The flesh 

 of both is accounted very delicate ; but the last is so small that a man may safely eat twenty 

 at a meal. 



