COMMON SNIPE. 



SCOLOPAX GALLINAGO, Linn. 



Scolopax gallinago, Linn. S. N. i. p. 244 (1766) ; Naum. viii. 



p. 310; Macg. iv. p. 368; Hewitson, ii. p, 353. 

 Gallinago coelestis, Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 342 ; Dresser, vii. 



p. 641. 



Becassine ordinaire, French ; Schnepfe, German ; Agacha- 

 diza, Agachona, Laguneja, Spanish. 



As I believe that this delightful bird breeds more or 

 less commonly in all but a very few counties of 

 England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, and is well 

 known throughout Europe, either as a summer or 

 winter visitor, I can hardly expect to add anything of 

 importance to its already well-known history. In the 

 British localities in which it does not breed regularly 

 it generally makes its appearance after the first heavy 

 autumnal rains, and remains in favourable circumstance 

 till driven away by severe weather or the constant 

 persecution of man. In the neighbourhood of Lilford, 

 where a Snipe's nest is of rare occurrence, although a 

 certain number of these birds breed regularly within 

 the limits of our county, I generally hear of the first 

 Snipe about the end of July, and in wet summers I 

 think that we, as a rule, have more Snipes in our 

 portion of the Nen valley in August and September than 



