SCOLOPACIDAE—SNIPES.
243
Great Snipe: Gallinago major. Locally " Double Snipe."
An uncommon visitor to Britain. It has been met with fairly
often in Essex as a passing migrant in the autumn, but appears to be
very rarely seen in spring.
" Several were shot on the Suffolk and Essex coasts during the autumn of 1836
(Hoy—18. i. 117). Mr. Clarke records (24) one obtained near Walden about
1825, and another at Newport in 1853. Dr. Bree records one (29. Sept. 6 and 20)
found dying near Lexden in Aug., 1879. Mrs. Bree still has it. He also says (29) :
" Mr. Ambrose, bird-stuffer of this town, has shown me two fine specimens,
sent to him for preservation, and shot one on either side of the River Colne as it
flows into the sea at St. Osyth and Brightlingsea, in November last [1880].
These birds weighed respectively 81/2 and 91/2 oz. The bird which weighed least
was the finer specimen of the two. * * * With one bird in my own Collection, this
makes three that have been taken in this neighbourhood during the past year."
Mr. Laver (41. i. 189) saw one at a game-dealer's in Colchester on Sept. 7th,
1887. It was in good condition, and had been killed by flying against the tele-
graph wires. It was afterwards purchased by Mr. Pettitt. Mr. E. A. Fitch
informs me of one in the possession of, and shot by, Mr. F. Cocks on Tiptree
Heath. It weighed 103/4 oz. Mr. Hope writes that there are always one or two
about every year. Two were shot at Brentwood in Nov., 1888. Mr. Pettitt
has preserved specimens shot respectively at Takeley about 1884 ; at Paglesham
about Dec. 30th, 1888 (weight 61/2 oz.); at Langham about the end of August,
1889 ; and at Tollesbury on the Old Hall Marshes by Dr. Salter on Sept. 13th,
1889, the latter a particularly fine bird, weighing 73/4 oz. and measuring 12 inches
in length.
Common Snipe : Gallinago caelestis. Locally, " Whole Snipe "
and "Full Snipe."
A common winter visitor, especially during a sharp frost or floods,
when single individuals may be found beside small streams and run-
ning ditches in most, if not all, parts of the county. It used to be a
common resident, but it is now more scarce than formerly, though it
still breeds in various places on our coast, and probably in Epping
Forest.
In 1880, large numbers, which remained only a few hours, were observed to
arrive on the Essex coast from Oct. 29th to Nov. 1st (42). In 1881, a pair was
seen in the Osier-ground at Broomfield as late as April 7th, but they did not
stay to breed. Three were also seen near here as early as Sept. 10th. Some
remarks by " a Londoner " (28. i. 43) imply that in 1851 it still bred not uncom-
monly in Hainault Forest, and it seems not improbable that they bred in the
Forest as lately as 1878, for " Ranger " says (29. July 13) : " For some time past
we have had about six couples of Snipe feeding on the swamps in the Forest in this
neighbourhood. * * * In many years' experience, I never knew them here so
early." The Rev. J. C. Atkinson cannot recollect ever having found its nest
in Essex, but it breeds round Harwich (Kerry), and at Paglesham Mr. J. F. T.
Wiseman has known it nest occasionally. Mr. Hope also remarks that it " breeds
on the marshes and passes on. Fresh birds take their place about the end of
September. On the first signs of frost they go up-country to the springs." In
1889, Dr. Salter says nests were found on the Tollesbury Marshes, where it is
becoming commoner as a breeding bird.