COMMON SNIPE. 
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the neck are yellowish-white, the latter being spotted 
with brown : the scapulars are elegantly striped with 
black and yellow: the quills are dusky, the edges of the 
primaries, and tips of the secondaries, white ; those 
next to the back barred with black, and pale rufous: 
the under surface of the wings is beautifully tessel- 
lated with cinereous and whitish : the tail- coverts are 
reddish-brown ; and so long as to cover the greatest 
part of it : the tail is dusky black at its base, then 
crossed with a band of orange and a slender one of 
black ; the tips are whitish or pale orange : the breast 
and belly are white : the vent is dull yellow : the legs 
are pale green. It varies occasionally in having its 
throat, breast, back, and wings beautifully varied 
with white ; also in being totally of a reddish-white ; 
or of a pure white. It is also found with a grey head 
and yellowish legs ; this last-mentioned variety is the 
Finmark Snipe of Latham. 
These birds do not frequent woods ; but during 
winter they are very common in wet meadows and 
marshy places, where they lie concealed among the 
rushes, carices, and osiers which grow on the borders 
of the stream. In the summer time they disperse to 
different parts, and are to be found even amongst the 
highest mountains, as well as on the lowest and most 
extensive moors : they are migratory, a considerable 
portion of them leaving this country in the spring 
and returning in the autumn. Many, however, re- 
main with us through the whole year. These make 
their nests of dried grass and feathers, in the most 
retired and inaccessible parts of the marshes, and 
generally under the stump of an alder or a willow : 
