16 Lieut. H. 11. Kelliam on 



appearing iu eertuin districts at particular seasons. I never 

 heard of it nesting in the peninsula, and never even saw it 

 except during the north-east monsoon, when it is fairly plen- 

 tiful, frequenting the same ground as the common Pintail. 

 I have shot Painted Snipes in the north of Perak during the 

 months of January, February, and March, and found them 

 in considerable numbers further south during October. 



Out of a bag of twenty couple of Snipe shot in province 

 Wellesley on November 9, more than half were of the Painted 

 species. They seem to collect in small parties ; for when one 

 is flushed two or three more are generally to be found some- 

 where near ; but they rise with a heavy Owl-like flap, as a rule 

 settling again within forty or fifty yards. Thus off'ering an 

 easy mark, and being moreover poor eating, they are scarcely 

 worth shooting. 



The chief characteristics of the Painted Snipe are the beau- 

 tiful ocellated plumage and the Curlew-like bill, curved 

 downwards at the tip, also shorter than that of the common 

 Snipe. The female, with the handsome chestnut throat, is 

 larger and more brightly -coloured than the male. 



Gallinago scolopacina, Bp. 



Compared with the Pintail species, the common European 

 Snipe is rare in the Malay States. 



Limosa iEGOCEPHALA (Linn.). 



Personally I did not meet with this Godwit ; but Mr. 

 Davison showed me a specimen caught with birdlime, at the 

 same time as two Whimbrel, on the rocks off Changhie, on 

 the north coast of Singapore. 



NuMENius ARQUATA (Liuu.). The Curlew. 



Plentiful along the coasts during the north-east monsoon. 

 I shot a few off" Changhie and among the islands in the Joliore 

 Straits, but found them just as well able to take care of them- 

 selves, and just as hard to get at, as in cooler climes. 



Referring to a visit I made during November to Pulo 

 Nongsa, a small island off the south coast of Singapore, in 

 my note-book is : — 



"The tide being very low, a broad belt of coral-reef sur- 



