SCOLOPAX BREHMI.- 
SCOLOPAX BREHMLI, Kate. 
In our concluding part for 1849, we made some observations on 
Scolopax brehmi of Kaup, and we are glad to say, that these 
have already been attended with advantage, and have directed 
attention to the subject. There is much more yariation in the 
plumage and different states of our Snipes than is at first observed 
from the very cursory examination which they receive when shot, 
even by ornithologists. The tail, as we before remarked, has been 
taken as a part affording distinctive characters; but the breadth 
of the feathers, and their colours, will be found to present much 
variety, white, black, and sienna, in their turn, prevailing in dif- 
ferent proportions. 
We do not unfrequently find the outer tail-feathers longer than 
the others, accompanied by minute variations in the plumage; such 
as more white at the tips of the secondaries, and in the inner 
webs of these feathers being more distinctly mottled, affording 
very favourite feather for the angler, and which has been long 
observed and sought after, although with no suspicion of that ar- 
rangement belonging to any distinct race or species. In all these, 
however, we have never counted more than fourteen feathers in 
the tail. 
We sent impressions of our plate of the tails of S. gallinago 
and brehmé to several correspondents; and ©, A. Gordon, Esq., 
M.D., now in Ireland with his regiment (57th), a few days since, 
sent us a Snipe, shot in the vicinity of Enniskillen, bearing all the 
characters of S. brehmi, having siateen feathers in the tail, with 
that on the outside slightly lengthened beyond the others. On 
comparing this bird with that haying fourteen feathers, and which 
we gave as S. brehmi, there is very little difference; the bills are 
equal in length, and the general tone of the plumage is similar. 
On comparing them again with S. gallinago, shot at Jardine 
Hall, we find the bill shorter, 2.6; tarsus, i,3; naked part above 
the joint, 43; the pale parts of the upper plumage more rufous ; 
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