GRALLATORES. 271 



Fanuly SCOLOPACID-aS. 



There is no group of marsh birds more deserving a family 

 name than the Snipes and Woodcocks, for they are very 

 numerous in species and are divisible into many genera. In 

 size they range from that of the well-known Woodcock to the 

 equally familiar Jack Snipe, and are universally dispersed over 

 the globe, being found in every country. 



Genus GALLINAGO, Leach. 



This genus was established for that section of the Snipes 

 of which our common species i^Gallinago scolopacinus) is a 

 typical representative, and of which only one kind has yet 

 been recorded as an inhabitant of Australia. 



Sp. 533. GALLINAGO AUSTRALIS. 



New Holland Snipe. 



Scolopax australis, Lath. Ind. Oi'ii., Supp. p. Ixiv. 

 New Holland Snipe, Lath. Gen. Syn., Supp. vol. ii. p. 310. 

 Scolopax hardwickii, Gray, Zool. Misc., vol. i. p. 16. 

 Gallinago australis, List of Birds in Brit. Mus., part iii. p. 111. 

 O-larcg-tty Aborigines of Port Essington. 



Scolopax australis, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. vi. pi. 40. 



On comparing the Snipes killed at Port Essington with 

 others obtained in Tasmania, some trivial differences are found 

 to exist, and which it is necessary to point out, in order that 

 future observers may be induced to ascertain if they be iden- 

 tical or if they constitute two distinct species ; on a minute 

 examination, the Port Essington bird is found to have a 

 shorter tail, and the four lateral feathers narrower than in 

 that from Tasmania ; besides which, the tail of the former is 

 composed of eighteen feathers in both sexes, while the speci- 

 mens of the latter, contained in my collection, number but 



