672 



A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



rectrices normal, lateral ones in a number of species more or less 

 narrow and stiff, number of rectrices 14-26. In all Continents, in 

 Australia only winter visitors. 



CAPELLA MEDIA 



428. Capella media (Lath.)— THE GREAT SNIPE. 



Scolopax Media Latham, Gen. Syn. Suppl., 1, p. 292 (1787 — Lancashire, 



England). 



Gallinago major (O-melin), Yarrell, in, p. 336 ; Saunders, p. 571. 



Description. — Adult male and female. Winter. — Like Common 

 Snipe but feathers of parallel bands on crown scarcely spotted ; 

 mantle and scapulars darker, feathers with fewer buff markings, 

 buff edges to outer webs of feathers of sides of mantle and scapulars 

 narrower and paler ; irregular barrings on breast less concealed 

 and more pronounced ; sides of body and flanks more broadly 



Half the tails of the Great Snipe (left) and the Common Snipe (right). 



barred ; tail-feathers : central pair as in Common Snipe, next two 

 pairs same but more broadly tipped white and with black basal 

 portion less extensive, 4th and 5th pairs with basal halves more or 

 less black-brown or olive -brown and terminal half white and more 

 or less irregularly marked black-brown and suffused pink-cinnamon, 

 three outer pairs white with olive-brown bases and broad bars of 

 same far apart on outer webs, not extending beyond two -thirds or 

 half total length of feather and often not so far ; primaries as in 

 Common Snipe but 2nd with outer web mottled or margined with 

 brownish -white ; primary and greater coverts broadly tipped 



