COMMON SNIPE. 
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and beautifully varied appearance. Beneath, the 
chin is white or yellowish-white ; the throat and 
breast dark wood-brown, the feathers of a deeper tint 
in the centre, the colours shading into pure white 
on the lower part of the breast, belly, and vent. 
The tail contains fourteen feathers, the two in the 
centre black, tipped with reddish-orange for the 
length of half an inch ; this pale tint is sometimes 
mottled with black, and is crossed near the tip with 
a narrow dark bar ; the other feathers to the ex- 
terior, are greyish-black, the reddish-orange extend- 
ing further down, varied and clouded with the dark 
ground colour of the feathers ; the outer feather is 
white at the tip, and on the outer web. When 
running, the Snipe jerks with its tail, spreading 
and expanding it like a fan, and often placing it in 
a lateral position ; the shafts of the feathers bend 
inwards, that of the outer having a distinct angular 
curve. 
