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BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
5, Peel Terrace, Brighton, March 3, 1869.” Writing to the present Earl of 
Gainsborough upon this, he replied, on 16th Jan., 1888: — “I have often heard of 
the Woodcock to which you refer, and believe it was shot at Exton. The picture 
I know, and it is at present in the possession of Col. Noel, Elston Hall, Newark.” 
Writing to that gentleman, he replied, on 19th Jan., 1888 : — “ I inherited the 
picture from my late uncle. The Honourable William Noel of Ketton, IM.P., and it 
originally came from Exton. Upon the picture, which is in oil, is written : — ‘ From 
this real original hath been taken near Fifty Copies. This most Extraordinary 
Woodcock was Shot Nov. 7th, 1748 — By one of the Earl of Gainsborough’s Ser- 
vants, and Painted from the Bird itself.’ Size of Picture — 19^ inch, x 16 inches.” 
GREAT SNIPE. Gallinago major (Gmelin). 
“ Double Snipe,” “ Solitary Snipe.” 
A rare autumn visitant. — According to Harley, Chaplin, of Groby, shot one in 
IMartinshaw Wood during the winter of 1838. Mr. Davenport says his father shot 
one at Tilton in December, 1861, and — ate it! The late Mr. Widdowson’s diary 
contains a note of one killed at Little I'alby on 28th Sept., 1868. Mr. Macaulay 
recorded (‘Mid. Nat.’, 1882, p. 10) that one was killed near Lutterworth some years 
ago by Mr. Sansome, of that town, and is now in his possession. Another was 
obtained at Noseley a few years since. A third * was killed in 1879 near Smeeton, 
by Mr. Elliot, and was eaten by him ; and a fourth was picked up dead in 1881 at 
Billesdon Coplow, and appeared to have died from want, as it was quite uninjured. 
On 2nd Sept., 1885, Mr. A. Ross, of Leicester, whilst shooting over the Garthorpe 
Estate, near Melton Mowbray, killed a Great Snipe, which his Dog pointed in a 
clover-field, and, as is usual with this species, at some considerable distance from 
water. The specimen, a fine dark-plumaged one, weighing nearly 8 oz. was 
presented by Mr. Ross to the Museum. This was recorded in ‘ The Field ’ for 12th 
Sept., 1885. I saw in the hands of Ludlam, a bird-stutfer, a Great Snipe which 
had been shot by Mr. J. C. A. Richards, in a field at Blaby, during the first 
week in September, 1885. 
In Rutland. — As in Leicestershire. — I>ord Gainsborough writes me that it has 
been recorded by Mr. J. Montague as occurring at Belton in 1850. Masters 
informs me that he shot one, in September, 1877, in flooded fields close to Egleton, 
and another at Oakham Pastures, in October, 1885. He also states that he saw 
one several times, in 1887, by the side of the canal near Ashwell. 
COMMON SNIPE. Gallinago ccelestis (J. S. T. Frenzel). 
“ Full Snipe.” 
Generally distributed, but not so common as formerly, and, although seen 
for the greater part of the year, it is doubtful if it now remains to breed. — 
* Mr. Macaulay did not see this specimen, but, as he was informed that it weighed 4 lb., 
he thinks it must have been of this species. 
