M. Sundevall on the Birds of Calcutta. 167 



Lotus-flowers. It presented no difference from a full-grown Swe- 

 dish specimen. The frontal disc was white, and not larger than 

 in our own specimens ; after drying it as usual became red. It 

 had fed on the same sort of water-plants as Parra indica, 

 (Length 15| inches; wing 210 mill. ; tarsus 62; middle toe and 

 claw 87; beak from front 3L) 



86. Scolopax gallinagOy Linn. The common Snipe is one of the 

 more frequent birds near Calcutta, where it is considered to be in 

 great measure stationary, but in all February and March they are 

 found in much greater numbers than in April. They were met 

 with not only near water and in swampy places, but as often on 

 the dry and bare ground in woods, and even among the houses 

 in the villages. In February they are said to run about in fami- 

 lies, although those which were found together never consti- 

 tuted a flock, or were followed until they flew up. Later in 

 the spring some occurred to me which must have had their 

 eggs among the fallen leaves in the aforesaid dry grounds ; but 

 this is only a conjecture. On two occasions the well-known cry 

 of the snipe while flying was heard in the morning. It happened 

 that no specimen was brought home, so that I have not been able 

 to compare the species with European specimens ; but as far as I 

 could see on the spot, not the slightest dissimilarity was noticed. 

 Scolopax major was not seen. 



87. Numenius arquata, Lath. Of this bird also no specimen 

 was brought home, but I saw it in the latter half of March, once 

 shot and twice living, on the river banks. I did not hear it cry 

 so loud or continuously as it is wont to do at the breeding season 

 in Europe, but only with a shorter heeee ! as one also often hears 

 with us. Temminck also mentions (in his Manuel d^Ornitholo- 

 gie) that the Curlew occurs in India. 



88. Totanus glareola, Temm. This Swedish species was also 

 met with on the Ganges, and pursues the same mode of life as 

 with us. In its stomach were found small snails. According to a 

 rigid comparison it precisely resembles those of our climate, and 

 I will therefore only give the measurements of a female, shot 

 March 24. Beak to front 30 mill. ; wing 135 ; tarsus 37 ; middle 

 toe and claw 34 ; tail 50. 



Near Sucsagor, on IV larch 20 — 25, some other Scolopacida 

 were seen, among which I thought I recognised Totanus glottis 

 and Limosa rufa in their winter dress, but they did not occur 

 very frequently. The species of Parra, Charadrius, Ardea and 

 Scolopax gallinago seemed to be the most abundant waders in 

 Bengal. 



89. Charadrius minor, Meyer, occurred commonly near the 



