tcnm^oological Society : — 



Family Scolopacid^. 



Genus Scolopax. 



Subgenus Rhynchjea (Cuv.). 



RHYNCHiEA piCTA (Gray). Painted Snipe. 



I quite think that the Painted Snipe breeds in the Deccan, or at 

 least some few of them, as I have had both male and female birds 

 sent to me in the middle of July, which were shot near Ahmednug- 

 gur. The female was in remarkably rich and beautiful plumage. 

 It is very probable that some breed annually in the rushy grounds 

 bordering the large tank at Singwa. 



Subgenus Scolopax. 

 Scolopax nemoricola. Solitary Snipe of the Neilgherries. 



Dr. Jerdon in his Catalogue says, " It is a rare visitant to the 

 Neilgherries during the cold season, and has not, as far as I am 

 aware, been killed elsewhere in the Peninsula." I believe the Snipe 

 mentioned in the following note, which I made at Nassick, to be the 

 same bird : — 



" Solitary, or rather, a very large Snipe, shot at Nassick by Lieut. 

 Boddam of the Engineers : a very fine specimen ; the plumage of a 

 very dark dim colour, and the tints on the scapulars not very bright. 

 Shot 5th January, 1847." 



Family Charadriad^. 

 Genus Charadrius. 



Charadrius pluvialis. Golden Plover, L. 



I have never met with this Plover in the Deccan, but shot them 

 on the sandy plains near Kurachee in Scinde. Dr. Jerdon says, 

 that it " is but rarely met with in the Peninsula. I have only seen 

 it on two or three occasions on the banks of large rivers on the table- 

 land, and on grass plains near the sea- coast, usually in small flocks 

 of five or six. I have seen specimens killed in the neighbourhood of 

 Madras in the breeding plumage, viz. with the whole under surface 

 of the body deep black. It therefore most probably breeds in this 

 country." 



Charadrius minor, Wagl. Lesser Ringed Plover. 



I believe the egg sent with this paper to be that of the Lesser 

 Ringed Plover ; if so, this bird breeds in the Deccan in the month of 

 April, laying its eggs on sand-banks in the middle of the larger 

 rivers. The egg forwarded was from a sand-bank in the river 

 Bheema. These pretty little lively birds are common in the Deccan, 

 resorting to the beds of streams and sandy shallows and banks of 

 rivers. They are difficult birds to shoot, being very restless, con- 

 tinually taking short flights, and running about with great activity 

 along Vhe water's edge ; their food consists of worms, small shells 



