TEE BIRDS OF NORTH C AG EAR. 501 



As regards Fantail, I have no authenticated ckitches from Cachar, 

 but I have two from the Santhal Parganas in Bengal. 



(612) G. SOLITARIA. — The Himalayan Solitary Snipe. 

 Hume, No. S69 ; Blanfonl, No. 1486. 

 I shot a pair of these birds in July 1888 on a small bheei near the 

 source of the Mahor river. I am sure they had a nest, but a most 

 patient and careful search failed to find it. I have had two or three 

 reports of its having been shot at the foot of the hills in winter, but 

 cannot be sure that the birds were correctly identified and they may 

 have been G. nemoricola. 



(613) G. GALLINULA. — The Jack Snipe. 

 Huim, No. 812; Blanfonl, No. 1487. 

 Sometimes very common, at other seasons very rare. I have shot all 

 through a season and only got two or three birds ; yet another, the next 

 year, I have shot eight in one day. Captain Melville, of the 4th Raj- 

 poots, and I shooting on the Sileoorie bheels on three consecutive days 

 must have got an average of 10 a day between us, amongst the 94 

 couple we obtained. 



I have never noticed the Jack Snipe on these hills during migration, 

 whereas the Pintail is almost common at times. 



(614) RosTBATULA CAPENSis. — The Painted Snipe. 

 Hume, No. 873 ; Blanford, No. 1488. 

 Very common. Mr. A. H. Hole found this snipe breeding in July 

 and August and laying their eggs in ploughed fields. I have had 

 their eggs brought to me in December and often as late as October ; as 

 on the other hand, I have often got them in May and June ; it would 

 seem certain that they must have at least two broods in the 

 year. 



Order XVI— GAVI^. 

 Family Larid^, 

 Sub-Family Larince, 

 (615) Larus ridibundus. — The Laughing Gull. 

 Hume, No. 981 ; Blanjord, No. 1490. 

 I have a single specimen of this gull shot in Hailakandy and given 

 to me by Mr. Inglis. I have seen no others, and it must be 

 very rare. 



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