316 



BIRDS. 



resistance," which, in the case of this species, surely has a retrograde 

 direction. I am aware ornithologists of very high standing have 

 privately expressed to me a contrary opinion, but with all the data 

 I have at command, during collecting of many years, I still adhere 

 to my belief — indeed, more strongly than before. 



Gallinago major (Gmel). Great Snipe. 



Eare occasional visitant in autumn. 



Two were shot at St. Andrews by a gardener named Hutcheson, 

 and were reported to Mr. E. Gray by Mr. (now Col.) E. G. Wardlaw- 

 Eamsay (vide Birds of the West of Scotland^ p. 311). These are now 

 in the St. Andrews Museum, but the labels bear no dates ; and one 

 appears in Small's Eegisters, under date of 22nd September 1896, 

 sent by my old friend Mr. J. E. W. Cook for preservation. 



Col. Drummond Hay has also recognised it on the banks of 

 the Tay. He himself saw one on the 4th September 1874, in the 

 Carse of Gowrie. 



Millais writes in his notes : "I have seen four Great Snipes in the 

 Bog of Murthly at different times. One of these I shot in September 

 1887, and the same season another appeared and stayed for several 

 days. A friend who was most anxious to shoot a Great Snipe (and 

 who is one of the best shots I know) happened to be staying close 

 by, so I telegraphed to him and he came at once, all agog to slay the 

 rare visitors. After driving the big Bog the Great Snipe was 

 moved, and flew over to Bog-bushes, another marsh close at hand. 

 My friend was placed behind the ' blind ' there, where the bird was 

 almost certain to pass on its way back to the larger marsh, and the 

 beat began amidst hushed expectancy. Soon the beat advanced, and 

 up got the Great Snipe, going with slow. Woodcock-like flight, 

 straight over the head of the famous shot. But, alas ! excitement 

 or some other reason caused the ' worst miss on record ' ! and the 

 Great One vanished slowly out of sight into the unknown." 



Gallinago coelestis (Frenzel). Comnnon Snipe. 



Old Gaelic name, Croman loin (old Statistical Account, vol. xvii. p. 251). 

 Eesident. General. Breeds. 



Fairly common in the north-east (J. Milne). This was in 1896. 



Very abundant all along the foot-hills of the Grampian ranges at 

 many localities in the season, and especially so in the summer and 

 autumn of 1904 (see Woodcock and Dotterel). 



