SNIPE, one of the commonest wading birds, in high repute both with the sportsman and epicure. The common snipe (Capella gallinago) breeds in marshes all over Europe and northern Asia, moving south in hard weather. It feeds upon worms, etc. which it obtains by probing the ground with its long bill. In this con nection the tip of the latter is flexible and very sensitive. When disturbed, the snipe rises suddenly with a curious twisting flight and a sharp cry, soon settling down, however, to swift straight flying. During the breeding season, the male circles at a con siderable height, uttering a sustained cry and plunging down a few feet from time to time, thus producing a bleating sound by the vibration of the outer tail feathers. Snipe have also been known to swoop down from a great height and then skim along horizontally for some distance back downwards. The nest is on the ground, and is a deep hollow lined with dry grass. The striped
plumage blends beautifully with the surrounding rushes and grasses. The four eggs are dark olive in colour, while the young are clad in protectively coloured down. Both male and female may sit on the nest together. In North America, Wilson's Snipe, C. delicata, differs only from the Old World form in possessing 16 instead of 14 rectrices in the tail.
The Double Snipe (C. media) is larger, and much less common. It inhabits northern Europe. The Jack or Half-Snipe (Lym neryptes minimus) is the smallest and most beautiful of the group. It breeds in northern Scandinavia and Russia.
The painted snipes (Rhynchaea) of the southern hemisphere are interesting in that the female is larger and more brightly coloured than the male, who undertakes the incubation.