SCOLOPACIN^. 675 



one; back and scapulars velvet black, crossed with chesnut 

 brown bars, and with longitudinal streaks of ochre yellow ; wing- 

 coverts dusky brown, edged with reddish white ; quills blackish ; 

 chin and throat white ; cheeks, neck, and breast above mottled 

 black and ferruginous ; flanks barred white and dusky ; the lower 

 part of the breast and abdomen pure white ; tail black, with the 

 terminal third red-brown, barred black and tipped whitish ; lower 

 wing-coverts white, very faintly barred. 



Bill reddish brown, paler at the base; irides deep brown; legs 

 greyish green. Lengtli 11 to 12 inches ; extent 17 to 18 ; wing 5 to 

 5|, about 1 or 1;^ inches shorter than tail; tail 2^; bill at front 2f 

 to 3 ; tarsus 1^ ; middle toe 1;^^. Weight 3| to 5 ozs. 



Both this and the last species of Snipe are very abundant in 

 India during the cold weather, and are not, in general, discriminat- 

 ed by sportsmen. Snipe arrive in the North of India in small 

 numbers early in August, but not in any quantity till the end 

 of September and October. A few are generally found in the 

 Calcutta market early in August, and in the Madras market by 

 the 25th of the same month ; the last birds do not leave before 

 the first week of May. In Upper Burmah, where I noticed 

 the very early appearance of the Common Swallow, Snipe come in 

 small numbers towards the middle or latter end of July ; but I 

 very much doubt their breeding there, or in the marshes of Bengal, 

 as Adams states that they do. They frequent marshes, inundated 

 paddy fields, rice stubble fields, edges of j heels, tanks, and river 

 courses, feeding, chiefly at night, on worms and various aquatic 

 insects. Their pursuit is a favorite sport throughout India, and 

 vast numbers are occasionally killed. I have heard of 100 couples 

 having been killed to one gun in the South of India ; and sixty 

 or seventy brace is no very uncommon bag for a first-rate shot 

 in some parts of the country. Snipe always rise with a piping 

 call, and fly against the wind ; occasionally they alight on bare 

 or ploughed land, and not unfrequently take refuge in some 

 neighbouring low jungle. 



Snipe breed in Northern Europe and Asia, laying four eggs 

 yellowish white, spotted with brown, chiefly at the large end. The 

 peculiar humming noise made by some Snipe during their flight 



