332 
SCOLOPACID.E. 
of its course. This unexpected play in the flight has 
a very pretty effect, it is done so easily and gracefully. 
The egg which I have figured is from the rich collec¬ 
tion of Mr. J. Hancock, who has kindly given me the 
following information. The four eggs in his collection 
differ very little from each other, and are altogether simi¬ 
lar to those supplied by the late Mr. Hoy; they are 
easily known from the eggs of any other species. On 
the 3rd of June, 1853, Mr. Hancock, after a long and 
persevering watch, succeeded in discovering the nest and 
eggs of this species for the first time in Britain, at Prest¬ 
wick Carr, near Newcastle. He says, “The nest was 
situated on a hillock in a marshy part of the carr, 
amongst heather and long grass, a situation perfectly 
similar to that in which the snipe builds. It is com¬ 
posed of a fine grass or carex, loosely put together, and 
measures three inches inside diameter, and is two inches 
deep. The eggs, four in number, were quite fresh. A 
friend who accompanied me shot the parent bird, which 
is now in my collection/' 
