S. major, Lin. cc. Great Snipe. Tail composed of sixteen feathers, shaft of the first quill whitish. Bill like that of the woodcock. Weight about eight ounces. In habits the marshes and flooded meadows of the north, oc curring in Siberia and America. In some countries it is a regular migrant, and in others a partial one. In Britain it is very rare, and in France and the south of Europe far from common. Its flight resembles more that of the woodcock than that of the snipe ; and when it rises it emits a cry somewhat like that of the latter, but shorter, and of a deeper tone. It breeds among the herbs and rushes of marshes, and lays three or four eggs, of a tawny green, with large deep brown spots.
S. gallmago, Lin. S:c. Common Snipe, Hoarse Gauk, of the Orcadians. The tail composed of fourteen feathers, all the shafts of the quills brown. The weight of this species is about four ounces, the length nearly twelve inches, and the alar extent fifteen inches and a half. Se veral accidental varieties, as pure white, rufous white, and pied, have been noticed by different observers. When the head is grey, with the legs yellowish, it is S. gallinaria of Gmelin and Lathan).
The snipe is met with in marshy situations, in almost every part of the world ; and it is very plentiful in our own island. In very wet seasons it resorts to the hills ; but it more generally frequents the marshes of the plains, where it can penetrate the soil with its long bill in quest of worms. Some few remain with us the whole year, and breed in the extensive wet moors and mountainous bogs. The nest is made of the materials around it, as coarse grass, or heath, lined with feathers, and placed in a dry spot, contiguous to a pool, or swamp, and not unfrequently at the foot of an elm, alder, or willow, and generally inac cessible to cattle. The eggs, which are usually four or five, are whitish, spotted with cinereous and brown, and, like those of the lapwing, much pointed, and invariably ranged with their small ends inwards. The young run off soon after they are freed from the shell ; but they are attended by the parent birds until their bills have acquired a sufficient firmness to enable them to provide for them selves. During the breeding season, the snipe changes its note entirely ; and the male will keep on wing for an hour together, mounting like it lark, uttering a shrill piping noise, and then descending with great velocity, making a bleating sound like that of an old goat, the two notes being alternately repeated round the spot possessed by the female, especially when she is sitting on her nest.
When undisturbed in its retreats, this bird walks leisurely with head erect, and moving the tail at short intervals. But it is not often observed in this state of tranquillity, being extremely watchful, and perceiving the sportsman or his dog at a great distance, and either concealing itself among the variegated withered herbage, so similar in ap pearance to its own plumage that it is almost impossible to discover it, or, as happens more frequently, springing and taking flight beyond the reach of the gun. When first disturbed, and forced to rise, it utters a sort of feeble whistle, and generally flies against the wind, turning nimbly in a ziz-zag direction, and sometimes soaring so high as to be lost in the clouds, when its cry is, neverthe less, occasionally audible. Though not easily shot, some sportsmen have the art of drawing it within range of their fowling-piece, by imitating its cry, whilst others are con tented to catch it in the night with snares. It is much esteemed for the table, but seldom acquires its full plump ness and flavour till after the first frosts. However fat, it seldom disagrees even with weak stomachs.
S. gallinula, Lin. E-c.c. Jack Snipe, Judcock, or Giti. The tail composed of, twelve feathers; a broad, longitu dinal, black band, spotted with rufous, running from the front to the nape. It is less numerous than the preceding, which it resembles in aspect and manners, and with which it sometimes associates, but it is of smaller dimensions, being only eight inches and a half in length, and weigh ing only two ounces. It will lie among rushes, or other thick coverts, till in danger of being trampled on ; and when roused seldom flies far. It comes to us later than the common snipe, and is not known to breed in this country. It is in equal request as the former for the table, and is dressed in the same manner as it and the woodcock.