( <S8 ) 



The Snipe, or Suite. Gallinago minor. 

 Numb. LXXI. 



ITS Lengtli from the Point of the Bill to the End of the Tail is twelve In- 

 ches and a quarter ; its Breadth when the Wings are extended fixteen 

 Inches 3 Weight three Ounces and fix Drams: A pale red Line divides the 

 Head in the middle longwaysjand on each Side parallel thereto, a Lift of black, 

 and without the black over the Eyes, another Line of the fame Colour with 

 that drawn along the middle of the Head; between the Eyes and the Bill 

 are a dusky brown Line ; the Chin under the Bill is white; the long Fea- 

 thers fpringing from the Shoulders reach almoft to the Tail, having their 

 outward half from the fhaft of a pale red, the inner black and gliftering, 

 and their Tips red ; which Colours fucceeding one another, make two Lines 

 .down the Back ; the covert Feathers of the Back are dusky with tranfverfe 

 white Lines ; thofe incumbent on the Tail are red croffed with black Lines; 

 the greater covert Feathers of the Wings are dusky, with white Tips, the 

 leffer are party-coloured with black, red and grey, and the infide Coverts 

 are curioufly variegated with brown and white Lines. The quill Feathers 

 of the Wings are twenty four in Number, of which the outer Edge of the 

 outermoft is white almoft to the Tip ; of the fucceeding the Tips arefome- 

 thing white, but more clearly from the eleventh to the twenty firft, elfe 

 they arc all brown, but the laft five arc variegated with tranfverfe black 

 and pale red Lines. The Tail is compos'd of twelve Feathers two Inches 

 and a half long ; the Tips of its outermoft Feathers are white, the reft of 

 the Feathers are varied with crofs Bars of brown, and grey or pale red Colour ; 

 the reft of the Tail Feathers are variegated with black, brown, red and white, 

 with feme dusky Spots, and are not exactly alike in all Birds; the Bill is al- 

 moft three Inches long, black at the Tip, and fomewhat broad and cham- 

 fered ; the Tongue is (harp, the Irtcies of the Eyes are hazel coloured ; the Legs 

 are of a pale green, the Talons black, the Toes long and feparated from the 

 firft Rife, without any Connection or Cohefion, and the back Toe is very 

 fmall. The Liver is divided into two Lobes, with a large Gall appendent; 

 the Stomach is not flefhy : Its Flefti is tender, fweet, and of an excellent Reiifti. 

 It lives chiefly on the fat undluous Humour it fucks out of the Earth ; 

 but feeds alfo on Worms and other Infe<£ls. Some of thefe Birds abide with 

 us all the Summer, and build in our Moors and Marfhes, laying four or 

 five Eggs at a breeding Time : The greateft Part of them leave us, and 

 fly into other Countries; they feed in fenny Places and Drains of Water, 

 z The 



