SABINE S SNIPE. ¡261
Like the Jack Snipe, it appears to have the habit, not being easily
alarmed, of returning again, after being disturbed, to the place that it
had left.
I n general appearance, this bird somewhat resembles the "Woodcock.
Male; length, a little over nine inches and three quarters; bill, dark
olivaceous brown, dusky towards the tip, pale reddish or yellowish
brown at the base. Head, crown, neck on the back, and nape, dusky
reddish, or pale yellowish brown, spotted and barred with black on
each feather; chin, throat, and breast, pah* dusky yellowish or reddish,
spotted and barred with black on each feather. Back above, dusky
reddish or yellowish brown, spotted and barred with black on each
feather; on the lower part tinged with grey.
The wings have the first qui]] feather the longest. The greater and
lesser wing coverts are dusky brown, partially tinted with pale ferruginous
or yellowish brown on each feather; primaries, dusky black, the
shafts also black; tertiaries, dusky brown, partially marked across with
pale yellowish brown on each feather; greater and lesser under wing
coverts, brownish black. The tail, which consists of twelve feathers,
is black on the inner half, ferruginous brown towards the tip, spotted
and barred with black; the two centre feathers have rather more, and
the outer feathers rather less, black than the others; upper tail
coverts, greyish brown. Legs, very dark chesnut brown, as are the
toes, the two outer of which are united at the base for a short
distance; claws, black.