822 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Nest and Eggs. — Undescribed. 



Observations. — Still another northern visitor, which much resembles 

 the Curlew Stint or Sandpiper as well as the Knot — in fact, it; is some- 

 times called the Japanese Knot. The seasonal changes of all these birds 

 are the same, but the Great Sandpiper is slightly the lai-gest of the three 

 birds, being 10.\ inches in length. In Australia it has been recorded for 

 West Australia, Northern Territoiy, Queensland, and New South Wales. 



In exhibiting a skin before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 

 1898, collected on the Gippsland Lakes by Mr. J. B. Mason, I was some- 

 what too hasty in extending the locality to Victoria. Afterwards, in 

 examining other examples, I proved it to be the Common Knot. I 

 should also have obsei-ved that the Great Sandpiper or Japanese Knot, 

 in its winter plumage, as it reaches us, nearly resembles the ordinai'y 

 Knot; but the former has, besides a longer bill, pvne white upper tail 

 coverts, notwithstanding Gould's figure of the bird shows those parts 

 mottled. 



636. — Gallinago australis, Latham. — (533) 

 SNIPE. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi., pi. 40. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. x.xiv., p. 652. 



Previous Description of Eggs. — Campbell : Victorian Naturalist 

 vol. xiv., p 170 (uSgSj. 



Gedgrapliical Distrihutiitn. — Whole of Au.stralia and Tasmaoaia; 

 also New Zealand (accidental), and migrating b)' Formosa, &c., to breed 

 in Japan. < 



Nest. — On the ground, amongst the givass of marshy uplands. 



Eggs. — Clutch, four; pyiiform, or pear-shaped; texture of shell 

 comparatively fine ; surface glossy ; colour, warm stone-grey, boldly 

 blotched and spotted, especially round the upper quarter, with rich umber 

 and dull or cloudy purplish-brown ; some of the heavier markings have 

 the appearance of having been wiped on with a brush. Somewhat large 

 compared with the size of the bird, and except for their hunger size come 

 nearest in likeness to those of the Turnstone ( Arenaria interpre.'i). 

 Dimensions of a clutch in inches: (1) 1'77 x 1-2, (2) 1-73 x 1-22, 

 (3) 1-71 X 1-22, (4) 1-7 X 1-21. (Plate 23.) 



Observations. — The Australian Snipe was fii-st described by Dr. 

 Latham in 1801, and is .sometimes known as Latham's Snipe. All 

 sportsmen are familiar with the " Long-bills, " but little is known of 

 their natural economy, while their nests and eggs were onlv discovered, 

 at all events only dcscrilied, in 1898, or nearly a ccnturj' after the birds 

 themselves became known to ornithological science. 



