94 INDIAN SPOETING BIRDS 



but if it must be given a place, bas to take one among tbe 

 bumble sandpipers, thougb among tbese it stands quite alone. 



Its bill, curved downwards sbghtly towards tbe end, is as 

 distinctive as its fine plumage, of wbich tbe most striking 

 points are tbe blue-grey quills and tail, spotted boldly witb buff, 

 a coloration unique in tbe bird world. 



Tbe sexes differ much, thougb both have, in addition to the 

 same peculiar coloration of the quills, tbe snow-white abdomen ; 

 tbe ben, which is larger, is also much the handsomer, her back 

 being dark glossy green, witb a streak of white on each shoulder, 

 and her neck dark chestnut. 



The cock's back is mottled with buff on a much duller green, 

 and be bas a buff ring round tbe eye where the ben bas a pure 

 white one ; and, most noticeable of all, bis neck is only drab, 

 not chestnut. His daughters, as is usually the case wbere tbe 

 hen bird wears, if not the breeches, at any rate the fine feathers, 

 have the masculine plumage as their first dress. Young chicks 

 differ noticeably from those of the true snipe, being buff witb a 

 few distinct longitudinal markings of black, a style of coloration 

 more reminiscent of sandpipers. Although the " painter " — to 

 use a slangy name, but appropriate as being non-committal witb 

 regard to the owner's relationships — is only about as long as 

 ordinary snipe, it stands higher on the legs and is much more 

 strongly built. It is, in fact, a broad-shouldered, full-chested 

 bird, and in this respect differs much from tbe slab-sided rails, 

 which it otherwise much resembles in some points, notably its 

 slovenly flight and habit of slinking along head down when 

 alarmed into cover, and running along therein in preference to 

 rising and showing sport. It will also swim voluntarily, as rails 

 so usually do. 



It is not, indeed, generally regarded as a sporting bird, at 

 any rate when genuine snipe are about to shoot at ; for in 

 addition to being a skulker and a slack flier, it is no particular 

 delicacy, thougb not unpalatable in default of more savoury 

 game ; I should call it about as good as an ordinary pigeon. 



It is a resident, or at least does not migrate more than is 

 necessary for any marsh-bird when its haunts are dried up, 

 and it is found practically everywhere in our limits except in 



