BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 145 



associates in Ceylon with the Long-toed Stint and tlie Little Stint, 

 but when found in such company is generalU single or in a small 

 troop of three or four. When collected in small flocks of six to two 

 dozen or more, it is almost always accompanied by other species, 

 and feeds gregariously in close company, the whole walking 

 nimbly about as they pick up their food. It does not run about 

 as much as its smaller relatives, feeding more after the manner 

 of a Sandpiper than a Stint " (Col. Legge). 



SNIPE 

 {Gallinago australis. Lath.} 



Male. — Crown of the head brownish-black, with a median 

 line of buff; back dark brownish-black; four central tail feathers 

 blackish-brown, tipped with white ; lateral feathers barred with 

 dark and lighter brown, also tipped with white; scapulars mottled 

 with deep sandy-buff, the feathers margined with pale buff; wing 

 coverts dark brown, tipped with pale buff; quills dark brown, 

 tips fringed with white ; sides of the neck, breast, and flanks washed 

 with pale reddish-brown and mottled with spots of deep brown — 

 on the tlanks the spots become bars; centre of the abdomen 

 white ; under tail coverts buff, barred with dark brown. Dimen- 

 sions in mm. : — Length, 292 ; bill, 67 ; wing, 169 ; tail, 65 ; tarsus, 46. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Nest. — " On the ground amongst the grass of marshy uplands " 

 (A, J. Campbell). 



Eggs. — " Clutch four; pyriform, 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 pui-plish-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 larger size, come nearest in likeness to those of 

 the Turnstone {Arenaria interpres). 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" (A. J. Campbell). 



Breeding Season. — The eggs described by Mr. Campbell were 

 obtained for him in Japan in May, so we m.ay infer that that 

 month and June constitute the chief breeding months. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, Australia in general, 

 New Zealand (accidental) ; migrating to Japan to breed, via 

 Formosa and intermediate localities. 



Observations. — Although during the time the Snipe is in Tas- 

 mania it is scattered over a wide area, in no locality is it anything 

 approaching plentiful. 



In Widowson's "Present State of Van Diemen's Land," 

 written somewhere about 1830, it is stated that " Snipe are found 

 in great abundance from September to March in the lakes and wet 



11 



