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rufous on the upper parts, while the 

 bill and legs are also a little shorter. 



The tail has twenty six rectrices, the 

 eight lateral pairs being very narrow, 

 while the five central pairs are 

 moderately broad. 



Distribution. — India, through China 

 up to Siberia. Passes Yangtse Valley 

 on migration and breeds in Eastern 

 Siberia. 



Notes. — The Pintail Snipe are usual- 

 ly more abundant in the Spring when 

 they are often found in large, loose 

 flocks scattered through the young 

 wheat. They have a very peculiar 

 way of alighting, tilting backwai'd 

 until the tail points almost straight 

 downward before reaching the ground. 



PAINTED SNIPE. 



ROSTRATULA BENGHALENSIS (l). 

 [Ehynchaea capensis (L).] 



Description. — Length ten and one 

 half inches. 



Bill greenish at the base, white in 

 the middle, and red at the end. Legs 

 greenish blue. Iris greenish brown. 



Crown olive brown wish buff median 

 line. White region round the eye is 

 prolonged toward the nape. Back olive, 

 with wavy lines of dark brown, and 

 mixed with grey, green and yellow. 

 Upper tail coverts grey, yellow, and 

 rufous mixed, with fine transverse lines. 

 Rectrices, from 14 to 16 in number, 

 have round, rufous spots on the extei-nal 

 shafts. Sides of neck and throat olive 

 brown, spotted with white and black. 

 Abdomen white. 



The Female is even more richly 

 colored and has in addition on the 

 upper breast a band of black. 



