BROWN SNIPE. 



55 



the neck is a patch of white, mixed with black ; the back, scapulars, 

 and wing coverts, are of a brownish slate-colour, dashed with cinereous ; 

 quills black ; the under parts of the body slate colour ; the sides a little 

 barred with white ; behind the thighs, the vent, and under tail coverts, 

 white ; the rump is black ; upper tail coverts white ; tail black ; legs 

 black. 



The female is rather less ; the plumage not so dark, and the feathers 

 of the body above and beneath margined with grey, greatly so on the 

 wing coverts ; the lower part of the rump, as well as the tail coverts, 

 are white. 



Young birds are said to want the white mark on the neck, *and the 

 feet have a reddish tinge.* 



These birds appear on our coast in winter, particularly in the West 

 of England, but are most plentiful in Ireland, where they are taken in 

 nets placed across the rivers, and are esteemed good eating : they are in 

 greatest abundance in those rivers that empty themselves into the 

 northern part of the Irish channel. 



It is said to be easily tamed. They breed far north, and return south- 

 ward in autumn. In Shetland they are called Horra Geese. They are 

 common at Hudson's Bay, and probably breed there. We are informed 

 some of these birds breed in Ireland : however that may be, the greater 

 part retire more northward for that purpose. 



BROAD BILL.— A name for the Shoveller. 



BRONZIE. — A name for the Cormorant. 



BRAMBLE FINCH.— A name for the Brambling. 



BRAZILIAN CURLEW.— A name for the young of the Ibis. 



BROOK OUZEL.— A name for the Bilcock and Dipper. 



BROWN-HEADED GULL.— The young of the Laughing Gull. 



BROWN-HEADED DUCK.— A name for the Golden Eye. 



BROWN LINNET.— A name for the Linnet. 



BROWN SANDPIPER. — A name for the Sandpiper. 



BROWN SNIPE (Scolopax grisea, Gmelin.) 



Scolopax grisea, Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 658 Ind. Orn. 2. p. 724, 33 Temm. 2. p. 



649.— Brown Snipe, Arct. Zool. 2. No. 369 Lath. Syn. 5. p. 154. 28 Flew. 



p. 106. y V 



The weight of this species is three ounces and a quarter ; length, 

 from the apex of the bill to the end of the tail, eleven inches ; to the 

 end of the middle toe thirteen inches and a half. 



Bill two inches and a half long, rather inclining downwards at the point, 

 not so slender as that of the common snipe, and spreads a little broad 



