GREAT SNIPE.
SOLITARY SNIPE. DOUBLE SNIPE.
Scolopax major, PENNANT. MONTAGU.
GaUinago major, STEPHENS.
Sco/opax—A Woodcock, or Snipe. Major—Greater.
THIS Snipe is found in Europe—in Sweden and Norway, where
it breeds in considerable numbers, Holland, France, Gcrmanv, Bohemia,
Switzerland, and Italy, in the Pontine Marshes, near Home.
I n Asia, in Persia, and about the Caucasus.
Pennant was the first to describe this as a British bird, from a
specimen preserved in the celebrated Leverian Museum. It was killed
in Lancashire.
I n Norfolk it is not uncommon in the autumn, in August and
September, but is met with only in small numbers. W. F . XV. Bird,
Esq. tells me of three he saw shot there, and of another sent from
Yarmouth. P. E. Hansell, Esq, has reported his having found a
nest with four eggs, in April, 18IG, at Belangh, near Wroxham, t he
birds belonging to which appeared to be of this species; aud lie also
informs me of a male bird having been killed near Lowestoft, in
Suffolk, in the month of April, 1851. In the county of Northumberland
several instances have occurred; one near Twizell, the seat of
Prideaux John Selby, Esq., in 1822. In Durham, five or six on
Sedgemoor. Two or three were obtained near Castle Eden, in the
winter of 1853; and the Hon. Augustus Barrington, and his brother Lord
Barrir.gton, shot, many years ago, four Solitary Snipes, two of which
were young birds, scarcely full-fledged. This was on Fishbum Carr,
between Castle Eden and Darlington.
In Devonshire, one was shot on Shaugh Moor, September 7th.,
1850. One was caught, a few miles for Plymouth, in October, 185{J,