50 



AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 



1 106*Australian Snipe (Japanese, Latham), Jack Snipe, 

 23 Bleater, Long-bill, Gallinago australis, Jap., For- 



mosa, to A., T., N.Z. =vt. Eur. Snipe. 



Mig. c. swamps 9.5 

 Richly mottled; crown blackish with buff line along centre; 

 face, chin buff; breast, washed reddish-brown; brown 

 bars on flanks; back mottled brownish-black; under 

 wings finely barred black, white; chestnut band on 

 tail; two black lines on face; bill 2.7 in.; f., sim. 

 Insects, worms. 

 1 107*Australian-Painted Snipe, Australian Rhynchaea, Ros- 

 3 tratula australis, A. Mig. v.r. grassy, hush 9.5 



avoid Birds of Prey, and so are seldom seen, though they may be 

 heard calling as they pass high overhead. They are occasionally 

 seen with the aid of telescopes as they pass across the face of the 

 moon. 



The Pratincole, or Swallow-Plover, is a representative of an 

 Old-World family. Its long wings and long legs denote a rapid 

 runner and a rapid flyer, so that it has little trouble in catching 

 its insect food, either in the air or on the ground. 



Our inland Stone-Curlew has a call very similar to that of the 

 sea (true) Curlew, but it has a short, straight bill, instead of a 

 long, arched bill. The proper name of the land Curlew is the 

 Southern Stone-Curlew or Stone-Plover. It is the only Australian 

 bird that seems to have the power of varying the color of its 



