sabine’s snipe. 
177 
Scolopax SABixn. — S abine’s Snipe, Vigors .* — 
We have introduced this Snipe after the woodcock, 
in consequence of the intermediate form and colour 
it possesses between the true woodcocks ( Rusticola 
of some authors) and the Snipe. The upper parts 
are nearly of a dusky-brown, varied by narrow bands 
of pale yellowish-brown. The under parts are also 
rufous dusky-brown, alternately barred with pale 
yellow-brown. The tail, containing twelve feathers, 
has the basal half black, the terminal half chestnut- 
brown, barred with black or blackish-brown. Tibi® 
plumed entirely to the knees. The entire length of 
the bird is from ten to twelve inches, of which the 
bill will measure from two to three. 
This interesting bird was described by N. A. 
Vigors, Esq., in the fourteenth volume of the Lin- 
mean Transactions, from a specimen shot in Queen s 
County, Ireland, on the 22d of August 1822. A 
second Irish specimen was afterwards procured and 
exhibited to the Zoological Society, by Mr. Thomp- 
son ; and three other specimens have since been 
killed in England, the last near Morpeth, in Nor- 
thumberland, which is the most northern range 
ascertained for the species. We are not aware, with 
certainty, of any extra European locality. 
Of the habits of the Sabine Snipe we know little. 
That exhibited by Mr. Thompson w r as not procured 
until after the third shot, and showed no shyness or 
timidity, alighting, after being fired at, without 
* Linnsean Trans, vol. xiv. Ulust. of Omith. pi. xxvii. 
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