172 Messrs. S. Roch and E. Newton on Birds 



tunately, not preserved. They did not appear further up the 

 country than Ranomafana, about twenty-three miles from the 

 coast. 



62. Gallinago bernieri, Pucheran; Hartl. p. 78. "Rav- 

 rav." 



This species was tolerably common along the coast, where it 

 had evidently just, been breeding, as Dr. Roch found a young 

 one, about four days old, on the 3rd of October, between Tra- 

 nomaro and Mamorack. Unfortunately it was not preserved. 

 In colouring it approached the young Gallinago scolopacinns 

 more than either G. major or G. gallinula. In the valleys near 

 Ambohitroni, about ninety-four miles from the coast, we found 

 this species more numerous, and in about half an hour killed 

 nine couple. Their flight was slow and steady, and they did 

 not twist in the least. These were evidently not breeding. The 

 largest we measured was 19*25 inches in extent of wing, and 

 17*5 inches from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail. 

 Sixteen appeared to be the normal number of tail-feathers. We 

 have been told that they were shot in great numbers near the 

 capital, about a month or so after we were there — one French- 

 man killing a hundred and thirty in a week. We did not 

 observe the species beyond Ambohitroni. 



" One that I shot at Foule Point, on the 13th of November, 

 weighed 7\ silver five-franc pieces. This bird did not measure 

 quite as much as the one mentioned above. Iris and bill black ; 

 legs slate-colour." — S. R. 



63. Rhynch^a capensis (Linn.), Hartl. p. 78. " Rav-rav." 

 We met with these birds from Andovirauto on the coast, to 



Ambohitroni. They were nowhere very common, and generally 

 not more than a solitary bird or a pair was to be be found in the 

 same place, though on one occasion three or four were seen 

 together. They lie very close in rice-fields or marshes, and 

 their flight is slow and straight. They seldom fly far. The 

 natives do not distinguish between them and Snipes. 

 " I shot a pair of these birds at Farafata." — S. R. 



64. Parra albinucha, Is. Geoff'roy ; Hartl. p. 78, 

 Tolerably common on the lakes near the coast, where water-lilies 



