418 Grall^e. BIRDS. Rallid-e. 
upper plumage is black, with the feathers margined 
with reddish-brown and white, and the whole low'er 
surface rich reddish-chestnut , in the winter it is ashy- 
gray, above, and white streaked with gray beneath. 
In this country the Knot is met with on the shores, 
chiefly of the southern and eastern counties. 
THE DUNLIN {Tringa variabilis), which is about 
eight inches in length, undergoes changes in its plumage 
analogous to those occurring in tlie preceding species, 
and the difference between the bird in its summer 
and in jts winter dress is so great, that it was long 
supposed to form two species, distinguished under the 
names of the Dunlin and the Purre. The Dunlin is 
diffused over the whole northern hemisphere, and 
migrates to high latitudes in the spring to breed ; in 
this country it is abundant on the sea-coasts during 
the autumn and winter, but appears to breed only in 
the most noithern parts of Scotland, and in the Orkney 
and Shetland islands. It frequents flat sandy shores, 
where it is seen in constant activity, running along or 
taking short flights near the edge of the water, and 
continually probing with its bill in search of the small 
Crustacea on which it chiefly feeds, 
THE COMMON SNIPE [Scolopax.gallinago) — Plate 
27, tig. 103. — This well-known bird, although generally 
migratory in its habits, and breeding in high northern 
latitudes, is still truly indigenous to this country, in all 
parts of which it is known to breed, but most commonly 
towards the north. It is, however, most abundant 
here during the winter, when it is met with in marshy 
places all over the country. The bill in the Snipe, and 
in all its immediate allies, is thickened, soft, and very 
tender at the extremity, and this part, being richly 
supplied with nerves, serves as a delicate organ of 
touch in searching in the soft ground for the insects 
and worms which constitute the food of the bird. The 
nest of the Snipe is a very slight structure, composed 
of a little dry gra.ss or other herbage, brought together 
in a small hollow in the ground, often under the shel- 
ter or in the midst of a tuft of grass or rushes. The 
eggs aie from two to four in number. The Common 
Snipe is found in all parts of Europe, and in Northern 
Africa and Asia Minor, but in its more southern places 
of residence it is only a winter visitor. 
THE JACK SNIPE {Scolopax gallinula), a smaller 
and rarer British species than the preceding, is found 
in this country almost exclusively during the wdnter, 
although a few specimens remain to breed in the 
northern parts of Scotland. It is widely distributed 
over the eastern hemisphere towards the north, and 
migrates into high latitudes every summer. 
THE GREAT SNIPE {Scolopax major) is a larger 
species, measuring about twelve inches in length. Like 
the preceding Snipes it is widely distributed, and 
migrates far north to breed. 
THE WOODCOCK {Scolopax rusticola), which, like 
the Snipes previously referred to, is a winter resident 
in this countiy, is also known to remain here through 
the summer, and to breed in many parts of Britain, 
especially in the north of Scotland. It arrives here 
early in October, and leaves us again for the north in 
March, and during its residence here dwells chiefly 
in plantations and copses in the vicinity of water. It 
feeds at night, when it sallies forth from its cover and 
proceeds silently to its feeding ground, where it seeks 
the worms and larvte of insects which constitute its 
nourishment. In its mode of nidification it resembles 
the other Snipes. 
THE GRAY PHAIAROPE {Phalaropus ?o6a«M,9).— The 
Phalaropes closely resemble the Snipes in their general 
characters, but are at once distinguishable by the 
structure of their feet, which have the anterior toes bor- 
dered with membranous lobes, rendei’ing them efficient 
swimming organs. Hence, they have been placed by 
some ornithologists in the same gi'oup with the Coots 
and Grebes, in which nearly the same structure of foot 
prevails, although in all other respects the Phalaropes 
are evidently true members of the Snipe family. 
The Gray Phalarope is a pretty little bird, measuring 
about eight inches in length. In winter its colour is 
pearl-gray above, with the greater part of the wing- 
feathers lead-gray, margined with wdiite; the lower 
surface is white. In the summer it is nearly black 
above, with the margins of the feathers pale-yellow, 
and reddish-chestnut beneath. This bird is widely 
distributed in the Northern hemisphere, being met with 
in Europe, Asia, and North America. It is migratory 
in its habits, resorting to the extreme north for the 
breeding season, and passing the winter in the warmer 
temperate latitudes. It is usually seen in this country 
in autumn, when it is not uncommon, and a few speci- 
mens remain with us through the winter. As might 
be expected, from the structure of its feet, the Phala- 
rope is a good swimmer. It has been seen several 
miles out at sea, swimming about and capturing the 
small Crustacea and other animals which float at the 
surface of the w’ater. When swimming its appearance 
resembles that of a teal. Two other species of Phala- 
ropes are met wdth in North America, one of which, 
the Kkd-ni-:cked Pualaeope {P. hyperboreus),\^Q.ho 
found ill Europe. 
Family VI. — RALLIDAE. 
In this family the bill is always short, much com 
pressed, and wedge-shaped; the upper mandible is 
grooved along eacli side, and the nostrils are generally 
placed near the middle of the bill. The legs are 
also short, rarely so long as in the preceding family. 
They are generally pretty stout. The toes, espe- 
cially the anterior ones, are greatly elongated; the 
hinder toe is sometimes of moderate length, some- 
times very long, and it is either placed on the same 
plane witli the anterior toes, or elevated a little upon 
the back of the tarsus. The claws with which the toes 
are armed are often very long, especially that of the 
hinder toe ; and the birds in wliich this structure 
occurs are thereby enabled to run with ease upon the 
floating leaves of aquatic plants. The wings are 
moderate, and the tail generally short. The neck, also, 
is short, and in their general aspect the birds resemble 
the Gallinte more than the true Waders. 
In their habits the birds of this family vary greatly. 
Some of them frequent dry places, and especially corn- 
fields, whilst others haunt marshy places and the 
margins of water. Of the latter, some, as already 
