SNIPE. 
329 
down of a brownish white color, and are marked from the bill, along 
the crown to the hind-head, with a broad stripe of deep brown ; another 
line of the same passes through the eyes to the hind-head, curving 
under the eye ; from the back to the rudiments of the tail runs another 
of the same tint, and also on the sides under the wings ; the throat and 
breast are considerably tinged with rufous ; and the quills, at this age, 
are just bursting from their light blue sheaths, and appear marbled as 
in the old birds ; the legs and bill are of a pale purplish ash color, the 
latter about an inch long. When taken, they utter a long, clear, but 
feeble peep, not louder than that of a mouse. They are far inferior to 
young Partridges in running and skulking ; and should the female 
unfortunately be killed, may easily be taken on the spot. 
Species III. SCOLOPAX GALLINAGO* 
SNIPE. 
[Plate XLVII. Fig. 1.] 
This bird is well known to our sportsmen ; and, if not the same, has 
a very near resemblance to the common Snipe of Europe. It is usually 
known by the name of the English Snipe, to distinguish it from the 
Woodcock, and from several others of the same genus. It arrives in 
Pennsylvania about the tenth of March, and remains in the low grounds 
for several weeks ; the greater part then move off to the north, and to 
the higher inland districts to breed. A few are occasionally found, and 
consequently breed, in our low marshes during the summer. When 
they first arrive, they are usually lean ; but when in good order are 
accounted excellent eating. They are, perhaps, the most difficult to 
shoot of all our birds, as they fly in sudden zigzag lines, and very 
rapidly. Great numbers of these birds winter in the rice grounds of 
the Southern States, where, in the month of February, they appeared 
to be much tamer than they are usually here, as I frequently observed 
* In consequence of Wilson's doubts, whether this bird was the 5. Gallinago or 
not, he gave no synonymes. The Prince of Musignano, convinced that it was a 
distinct species, adopted for it the name of Brehmii, under the impression that it was 
identical with the Snipe lately discovered in Germany, and described under the 
above-mentioned name. It appears to be neither the Gallinago nor the Brehmii, 
but a bird peculiar to our country : In Mr. Ord's supplement to Wilson's Orni- 
thology, it is classed under the name of Scolopax dclicata. 
