{ 76 ) 



Distribution. — Warm regions of 

 Asia, Africa, Australia, East Indies, 

 and Japan. 



This bird is a residenfa in the Yangtse 

 Valley though not common. It breeds 

 throughout its range. 



Nest and Eggs. — The nest is placed 

 on the grassy ridges between the paddy 

 fields, or in marshes, or similar loca- 

 tions. It is usually a small hollow 

 lined with a pad of grass or rushes. 

 There are usually four eggs in a clutch. 

 The ground color of the eggs is usually 

 a light yellow and they are spotted and 

 streaked with brown of two shades 

 with a few greyish spots. 



Notes. — This snipe is more common 

 in Spring, but is rarely found in large 

 numbers, the rule being in singles or 

 small groups. 



The following additional representa- 

 tives of this family also occur in the 

 Yangtse Valley, but are so rare that 

 they are not often met with : — 



Eecurvirostra avosetta L., Avocet. 



Himantopus himantopus (L), Black- 

 winged Stilt. 



Gallinago solitaria Hodgs., Solitary 

 Snipe. 



Tringa canutus L., Knot. 



Tringa crassirostris T. and S., Big- 

 billed Knot. 



Erolia ferruginea (Brunn), Curlew 

 Stint. 



Pelidna alpina (L), Dunlin. 



Pisobia damacensis (Hors.), Long- 

 toed Stint. 



Pisobia platyrhyncha (Temm), 

 Broad-billed Stint. 



Pisobia acuminata (Horsf.), Sharp- 

 tailed Stint. 



Pisobia temminckii (Leisler), Tem- 

 minck's Stint. 



