58 
JACK SNIPE. 
the nape ; beyond this, on each side, is a band of a 
yellowish colour, passing over each eye to the hinder 
part of the neck ; in the midst of which is a narrow 
black stripe, running parallel to the former : the 
neck is white, spotted with brown and pale-red : the 
scapulars are very narrow, long, and beautifully bor- 
dered with yellow on their outer edges, and streaked 
and marked with briglit rust-colour on a deep brown 
ground, glossed with bronze and purple tints, on 
their inner webs : the quills are dusky : the rump is 
of a glossy bluish-purple : the belly and vent are 
wMte : the tail is dark brown with ferruginous edges : 
the legs are dirty green. 
The manners of this species are very similar to 
those of the preceding. Their flight is swifter and 
more direct : they do not appear to be so numerous in 
this country as the last described ; and they continue 
with us nearly the whole year : they breed in the 
marshes, and their eggs are coloured the same as 
those of the Common Snipe, but they are much 
smaller, not being much larger than those of the 
Lark ; they are five or six in number. It is found 
in most parts of Europe, and in North America, but 
appears with us much later than the former species, 
and is not known to remain in this country during 
the breeding season : it is a solitary bird, and among 
rushes, or other thick coverts, it will lie till in danger 
of being trod on, and when roused seldom Hies far. 
