GREAT SNIPE.

Scolopax major, Gmel.

La Grande ou Double Bécassine.

Tux specific appellation given to this bird, as is the case in many other instances, shows the impropriety
of such names as major, minor, minuta, &c. ; for although we admit that the present bird is the largest of
the European true Snipes, still there are two others which exceed it in size from the hilly districts of India,
and a third from Mexico, whose size is even superior to that of the Woodcock : the name of major as applied
to our bird is therefore perfectly inappropriate.

The northern parts of Kurope undoubtedly constitute the true habitat of the Great Snipe. Sir Humphry
Davy killed several during one of his summer visits to Norway, &c.: these were afterwards transmitted
to the Zoological Society of London, and on examination were ascertained to be strictly identical with those
killed in England. We do not mean to affirm that Norway and the northern regions generally are its sole
habitat, for we have received it in abundance from the temperate and southern portions of Europe and the
borders of Asia. Although we have no direct evidence that it breeds in the British Islands, still it is far
from bemg improbable that instances of the kind may occasionally take place, particularly as it appears to be
more common than has been hitherto supposed.

The term Solitary, by which it is known in some parts of England, is not inappropriately applied to this
Snipe, inas much as it is always found alone, and, as it were, isolated from the companionship of others of its
species ; neither does it appear to congregate into bodies for the purpose of migration, each individual, or at
most each pair, seeming to act independently for itself.

In its general appearance the Great Snipe closely resembles the Common Snipe (Scolopax Gallinago), but
on minute examination the flanks will be found to be strongly barred with brown, the secondaries and lesser
wing-coverts numerously spotted with white, and the outer tail-feathers totally destitute of any markings; in
addition to which it is much heavier, the weight of the Common Snipe being rarely more than four ounces,
while the Great Snipe frequently weighs seven or eight. Its flight is less tortuous and rapid than that of the
Common Snipe, being performed in a more steady and even line, and is not unlike that of the Woodcock.

Its food consists of insects, which it procures by thrusting its bill into the soft and oozy mud.

Like its congeners it is principally found in heaths, low marshy situations, morasses, &c.

Its habits, nidification, &c. are said to be precisely the same as those of the Common Snipe, and its flesh
is equally esteemed as a delicacy for the table.

Crown of the head dark brown, interspersed with small markings of reddish brown, with the central streak
of the same colour; a streak of pale buff between the bill and the eye; back dark brown varied by longitu-
dinal markings of yellowish brown; lesser wing-coverts tipped with white; breast, sides, and flanks white with
transverse triangular bars of deep brown ; tail of sixteen feathers, the two centre ones black for two thirds of
their length ; the outer feathers quite white for nearly their whole length ; legs olive ; bill blackish brown.

The Plate represents an adult male of the natural size.