I ll !
d i
~I w B l
g r e a t SNIPE.
Scolopax major, Gmel.
La Grande ou Double Bécassine.
T h e specific appellatioa given to this bird, as is the case in many other instances, shows the impropriety
o f 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 o f India,
and a third from Mexico, whose size is even superior to that o f the Woodcock : the name o f major as applied
to our bird is therefore perfectly inappropriate.
The northern parts o f Europe undoubtedly constitute the true habitat o f the Great Snipe. Sir Humphry
Davy kdled several during one o f his summer visits to Norway, &c. : these were afterwards transmitted
to the Zoological Society o f London, and on examination were ascertained to be strictly identical with those
kdled in England. We do not mean to aflfrm that Norway and the northern regions generally are its sole
habitat, for we have received it in abundance from the temperate and southern portions o f Europe and the
borders o f Asia. Although we have no direct evidence that it breeds in the British Islands, still it is far
from being improbable that instances o f 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 o f England, is not inappropriately applied to this
Snipe, in as much as it is always found alone, and, as it were, isolated from the companionship o f others o f its
species ; neither does it appear to congregate into bodies for the purpose o f 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 Gallimgo), but
on minute examination the fianks 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 o f any markings; in
addition to which it is much heavier, the weight o f the Common Snipe being rarely more than four ounces,
while the Great Snipe frequently weighs seven or eight. Its flight is less tortuons and rapid than that o f the
Common Snipe, being performed in a more steady and even line, and is not unlike that o f the Woodcock.
Its food consists o f 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 o f the Common Snipe, and its flesh
is equally esteemed as a delicacy for the table.
Crown o f the head dark brown, interspersed with small markings o f reddish brown, with the central streak
o f the same colour ; a streak o f pale buff between the bill and the eye ; back dark brown varied by longitudinal
markings o f yellowish brown ; lesser wing-coverts tipped with white ; breast, sides, and flanks white with
transverse triangular bars o f deep brown ; tail o f 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 o f the natural size.