RHYNCH^A. 127 



155. GallinagO gallinula {Linn:), Jerd., B. Ind. iii. p. 676; 

 Hume, Sir. F. iii. 182 ; Blylh, B. Burnt, p. 157; Dav. et Oust. Ois Chine^ 

 p. 479; Dresser, B. Eur. vii. p. 653; Htime and Dav., Str. F. vi. p. 459; 

 Crtpps, Sir. F. vii. p. 302; Hume, Sir. i^. viii. p. ii2; Legge, B. Ceylon 

 p. 828; Hume and Marsh., Game Birds iii. p 373, pi.; Hume, Sir. F. x. 

 p. 239 (note); Oaks, B. Br. Burm. ii. p. 384; Murray, Vert. Zool., Sind, 

 p. 241 ; Murray, Avif Brit. Ind. ii. p. 608, No. 1286. Scolopax gallinula, 

 Linn.. Syst. Nat. i. p. 244. — The Jack Snipe or Jud-Cock. 



Crown of the head with a mesial longitudinal black streak from the top of 

 the upper mandible; on each side of this a yellowish or cream-coloured 

 streak extending above the eye as a superciliary, and in some specimens 

 separated from the orbital region by a dark streak ; a dusky line from the 

 gape to the eye, and another from below it curving downwards to the ear 

 coverts ; the space between the two streaks white or cream colour ; chin and 

 throat white, greyish, or pale brown ; sides of the head greyish, greyish white, 

 or brownish white, spotted with browTi and pale red ; neck behind and nape 

 ferruginous or greyish brown, streaked or spotted with dusky; breast pale 

 yellowish brown or dusky, spotted or dashed with darker brown ; abdomen 

 white ; flanks dashed with brown and pale ferruginous; axillaries pure white, 

 with faint, almost obsolete dusky markings ; back and scapulars rich black, 

 with bronze green and purple reflections, the feathers of the upper back and 

 scapulars edged on their outer webs broadly with rich cream yellow, forming 

 two conspicuous longitudinal bands along each side; lower back and rump 

 glossy blue black (specimens in August very narrowly margined with albes- 

 cent) ; primaries dusky, the basal half of the first paler, not white; inner 

 primaries narrowly margined at the tip with albescent ; secondaries dusky, 

 broadly tipped with white ; tertiaries dusky on their inner webs, spotted and 

 streaked with reddish or yellowish brown on their outer webs ; tail dusky or 

 dark brown, edged near the tips with pale ferruginous ; under tail coverts 

 white; legs and feet pale greenish; irides deep brown. 



Length. — 8*5 inches ; bill dark brown at the tip, r6 to r8 inches in length 

 at front ; wing 4 to 4'6 inches ; tail r8 to 2*2. 



Hab. — Everywhere in India, and more plentiful than the common snipe, 

 with which it is generally associated. In Sind small parties begin to arrive 

 about the 26th August, or a few days earlier than the common snipe. It is a 

 difficult bird to flush, seldom rising until nearly trampled upon. It prefers 

 deep cover at all times, but I have often seen them on the oozy, semi-fluid mud 

 of back waters, where there was not even a stubble for cover. 



Gen. Rhynchsea.— Cwj*. 



Bill shorter than in Gallinago, curved downwards at the tip ; wings 

 rounded ; tarsi long ; tibia nearly entirely bare. 



