ARGENTINE PAINTED SNIPE 197 
ARGENTINE PAINTED SNIPE 
Rhyncheza semicollaris 
Above dark brown; head black, with a central and two lateral 
longitudinal bands of buffy white ; wings ashy blackish, spotted with 
buffy white and barred with black; coverts with large oval spots of 
clear white; beneath, throat and breast dark brownish, with a con- 
spicuous white neck-collar on each side; belly white, flanks tinged 
with buffy; bill greenish, reddish at tip; feet flesh-colour; length 
8, wing 4.1 inches. Female similar, but slightly larger and more 
brightly coloured. 
In the Argentine provinces this bird is called Dormilén 
(Sleepy-head), in allusion to its dull habits, which 
are like those of a nocturnal species. It passes the 
daylight hours concealed in dense reed-beds, rising 
only when almost trodden on; the flight is feeble 
and erratic, the rapid wing-flutterings alternating 
with intervals of gliding, and after going a short 
distance the bird drops again like a Rail into the 
rushes. From its behaviour on the ground, also in 
flying, when it appears dazed with the light, I have 
no doubt that it is altogether nocturnal or crepuscular 
in its habits. It is solitary and resident, and may be 
met with in small numbers in every marsh or stream 
in the Plata district, where its favourite reed-beds 
afford it cover. It appears to have no cry or note 
of any kind, for even when frightened from its nest 
and when the eggs are on the point of hatching it 
utters no sound. The eggs never exceed two in 
number, and are placed on the wet ground, often 
without any lining, among the close grass and herbage 
