7832 



Birds. 



the ' Zoologist ' to learn that the variety of partridge, of which I sent you an account 

 last year (Zool. 7544), has not disappeared from the parish of Shehhear. A covey of 

 twelve birds, of the same description, with a single female of the ordinary plumage, 

 appeared during the present season of 1861-2, in the same locality, not more than half 

 a mile from the spot where the birds were killed in the previous year, — in fact, I may 

 say that they occupied the same ground. Four of tbese have come into my posses- 

 sion ; four still remain; another and the old hen were also accounted for; of the 

 remainder I Jiave learned nothing, but doubtless they have fallen victims to some 

 sportsman's gun. All those brought to me were in a slight state of moult, but show 

 exactly the same peculiar markings which characterized the birds previously recorded, 

 with the following exception, — the existence in two of them of some few white feathers 

 on the breast. This, I think, will go far to show that variety, and not hybridily, must 

 be the light in which these singular birds should be regarded, — more especially so, 

 indeed when the existence of an ordinary old hen in the covey, as above stated, is 

 taken into consideration. The white feathers are certainly few in number, — not more 

 than two in one specimen and ten in another. The other bird killed, which did not 

 reach me, appears to have had a greater number of these feathers, as they particularly 

 attracted the attention of the man who bagged it, and who would have brought the 

 specimen to me if his dog had not injured it. I am told that the birds still remaining 

 keep to themselves and do not associate with other partridges occupying the same 

 ground. The farmer on whose estate they are, informed me that during tbe snow in 

 November they were seen running about in his yard. Beyond recording the above, I 

 can add nothing to what I wrote last year respecting this variety. I have failed in 

 obtaining any correct information respecting the importation of foreign birds — or, more 

 probably, eggs — by a gentleman, who some years since lived about ten miles distant. 

 ]\Jore than one person has mentioned the fact to me, and I think it very probable that 

 such was the case; however, whether, if true, this has anything to do with the present 

 birds the readers of the 'Zoologist' can form as correct an opinion as myself. — 

 W. S. Hore ; Penrose Villas, Barnstaple, January 7 ', 1862. 



Examination of a Specimen of Sabine's Snipe. — Mr. Vingoe and myself have been 

 engaged this evening in examining minutely a specimen of snipe, in every respect as 

 to colour, arrangement of markings, and dimensions answering the description of 

 Sabine's snipe (Scolopax Sabini). There is an entire absence of the longitudinal 

 stripes on the back, with the uniform brown-freckled plumage from the chiu to the 

 vent; the facial mask from the corner of the mouth to the eyes, and so all round under 

 the throat, is dull black ; a black stripe, half an inch wide, runs from the top of the 

 head to the nape of the neck, with a few rusty brown spots sparingly distributed ; the 

 under surface of the quill, secondary and tertial feathers blackish gray, as are also the 

 lateral under scapularies; the whole of the upper plumage marbled with deep black 

 and rust, uniform throughout; the tail with alternate black and rusty bars. With all 

 these exterior characters in perfect accordance with the various figures of Yarrell, 

 Selby and others, I have, I confess, felt very little hesitation hitherto in not believing 

 that the species is distinct, and not, as it has been suggested, and in fact strongly set 

 forth by some modern naturalist, a permanent variety of the Scolopax Gallinago; but 

 I confess that I am at present at fault by the great character of the number of tail- 

 feathers wanting in the present example. In counting the feathers with great care 

 three times there was no doubt as to the result — viz. fourteen, and not twelve. This 

 number favours its alliance to the common snipe, which has fourteen also. This bird was 



