THE BIRDS OF TRAVANCORE. 11 



(290) Gallinago ccelestis. — The Common Snipe, Full or 



Fantail Snipe. 



Blanford, No. 1484 ; Jerdon, No. 871. 



About one-quarter or sometimes a third of the whole bag in a day's 



snipe shooting here will be found to consist of these birds. Further 



North I am told that they form even a higher proportion. They 



arrive later than the pintail, and leave earlier. 



(291) Gallinago stenura. — The Pintail Snipe. 

 Blanford, No. 1485 ; Jerdon, No. 870. 

 A few stragglers arrive early in September, and again a few belated indi- 

 viduals may be found at the end of April. Between these dates varying 

 numbers may be met with. They are fond of harbouring in the low scrub 

 jungle surrounding the rice fields both before and after the crops are cut. 

 (292) Gallinago gallinula. — The Jack Snipe. 

 Blanford, No. 1487 ; Jerdon, No. 872. 

 A few specimens of this little snipe used generally to be found solitary 

 from year to year in certain damp rushy ground in Trevandrum ; since 

 this has been taken into cultivation, I have not met with any more. 

 (293) Rostratula capensis. — The Painted Snipe. 

 Blanford, No. 1488. 

 This beautiful bird is fairly common throughout the low country 

 wherever there are rushy marshes. When shooting, I have also often 

 flushed it from paddy fields. It breeds here, and I have had eggs brought 

 to me in December and young birds in February. 



Order GAV1M. 

 Family Larid^e. 

 Sub-family Larince. 

 (294) Larus icthyaetus.— The Great Black-headed Gull. 

 Blanford, No. 1489 ; Jerdon, No. 979. 

 In January 1903 the Museum collectors shot five specimens of this 

 fine gull at Kayankolam Bar. They do not appear to reach the coast 

 much earlier than this, as in December of the same year there were no 

 birds to be seen at this place. 



(295) Larus ridibundus. — The Laughing Gull. 

 Blanford, No. 1490 ; Jerdon, No. 981. 

 This bird was found to be fairly common at the same locality as the 

 last at the same period. 



