616 CHARADRIID2E. 



70. GALLINAGO. „ 



Type. 



Gallinago, Leach, Syst. Cat. Mamm. etc. Brit. Mus. 



p. 30 (1816) G. major. 



Telmatias, Bote, Isis, 1826, p. 979 G. stenura. 



Pelorynchus, Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 119 (1829) .... G. gallinago. 



Nemoricola, Hodgs. J. A. S. Beng. vi. p. 491 (1837) . G. nemoricola. 



Homoptilura, Gray, List Gen. B. 1840, p. 70 G. undulata. 



Xylocota, Bp. C. R. xli. p. 660 (18-55) G. jainesoni. 



Ccenocorvpha, Gray, List Gen. B. 1855, p. 19 G. aucklandica. 



Spilura, Bp. C. R. xliii. p. 579 (1856) G. solitaria. 



Range. Nearly cosmopolitan. 



The Snipes vary considerably in style of plumage and in the 

 amount of feathering on the tibio-tarsal joint, the latter being a 

 character frequently made use of in their classification, but one 

 which varies so much in degree that I have not been able to avail 

 myself of it. The markings of black on the head and neck of the 

 Woodcocks seem to afford a character of generic importance to 

 separate them from the Snipes," and thus I consider Neoscdlopax 

 of Salvadori to be a recognizable genus of Mountain Woodcocks. 



Key to the Species. 



a. With red in the tail, forming a broad sub- 

 terminal band, conspicuous at first sight ; 

 crown with a longitudinal pale mesial stripe. 

 a'. Lower breast and abdomen white, not 

 transversely barred. 

 a". With no bars or transverse markings 

 on the outer primaries ; only the first 

 primary white along the outer web. 

 a'". Outer tail-feathers stiffened and very 

 narrow, less than 03 inch broad. 

 ( Wire-tailed Snipes.) 

 a i . Tail-feathers 26 in number, of which 

 8 on each side are less than 



- 2 inch stenura, p. 619. 



b A . Tail-feathers 20 in number, of which 



6 on each side are less than 03 inch, 



the outer ones being still narrower, 



* but not so attenuated as in the 



preceding megala, p. 624. 



b'". Outer tail-feathers not perceptibly 

 stiffened, and not exceptionally nar- 

 row, more than - 3 inch broad. (Fan- 

 tailed Snipes.) 

 c 4 . Three outer tail-feathers pure white, 

 or with a few obsolete dusky spots 

 at wide intervals ; wing-coverts 

 with terminal bars or spots of pure 

 white, not sandy buff or rufous ; 

 tail-feathers 16 in number. 

 a 5 . Three outer tail-feathers pure 

 white, without any spots or bars ; 

 general aspect above sandy buftj 



