INTRODUCTION. 
cxvu 
Genus Macrorhamphus. 
297. Macrorhamphus griseus Vol. IV. PI. LXXVI. 
Red-breasted or Brown Snipe. 
In Mr. Harting’s ‘Handbook of British Birds’ (p. 144) no less than fifteen instances are given of the 
occurrence of this North-American species in England and Scotland. In every case, so far as can be 
ascertained, the specimens were procured in autumn, indicating that their presence here is in some way 
dependent upon a divergence from the route of their migration southward. 
Under the terms Scolopaa), GalUnago, and Limnocryptes those members of the true Snipes which visit 
Britain have been figured. They form part of a group of universal distribution. 
Genus Scolopax. 
298. Scolopax rusticola Vol. IV. PI. LXXVII. 
Woodcock. 
This well-known species of late years has become so much more numerous here as a resident, that 
although numbers still migrate to this country in the autumn, it is difficult to say whether “ the first cock of 
the season ” is an early arrival or a home-bred bird. 
Genus Gallinago. 
299. Gallinago major , . . , Vol. IV, PI. LXXVIII. 
Great Snipe. 
Although this species does not, like the next, breed in this country, it visits us regularly every autumn, 
but always earlier than does the Common Snipe ; and its occurrence during the spring months is rare. 
300. Gallinago scolopacina ......... Vol. IV. PI. LXXIX. 
Common Snipe. 
A regular winter visitant ; but in favourable localities many annually remain to nest and rear their young. 
With regard to the so-called Sabine’s Snipe, it is now generally regarded as a melanism of the common 
species, but is of sufficiently rare occurrence to attract notice. In the ‘ Field’ of Dec. 10, 1870, appeared a 
list to that date of all the known examples which had been obtained, since which time two or three others 
have been killed in the south of England, and, for the first time, one recently in Scotland. Mr, Brydges 
