272 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



sixteen ; it is true they were killed during a partial moult, 

 which circumstance renders it somewhat doubtful whether 

 sixteen be the right number or not. If the two birds should 

 prove to be identical, then the range of the species will extend 

 over the whole of Australia and Tasmania ; still, like its pro- 

 totype in Europe, its presence will depend much upon the 

 occurrence of favourable localities ; for in fact the same laws 

 that regulate the movements of one species equally govern 

 those of the other. 



In Tasmania it is very abundant during the months of 

 October, November, December, and January, affords excellent 

 sport to those fond of Snipe- shooting, and is to be found in 

 all low swampy grounds, lagoons, rivulets, and similar situa- 

 tions. Its weight varies from five ounces to six ounces and a 

 quarter ; it is consequently a much larger species than the 

 Gallinago scolopacinus of Europe. It flies much heavier than 

 that species, and thus affords a more easy mark for the 

 sportsman ; it is also more tame, sits closer, and when flushed 

 flies but a short distance before it again alights. On rising 

 it utters the same call of scape-scape as the Gallinago scolo- 

 pacinus. It is said to breed in Tasmania, but although many 

 of the birds that I killed bore evident marks of youth, I could 

 not satisfactorily ascertain that such was the case. Lieut. 

 Breton, in his ' Excursion to the Western Range, Tasmania,' 

 mentions that it always appears the last week in August or 

 the first in September. I found it very abundant in many 

 parts of New South Wales, in none more so than in the 

 lagoons of the Upper Hunter, during the months of November 

 and December ; but it was only a transient visitor, the lagoons 

 and swampy places then filled with water having attracted it. 



At the moment of this Handbook going through the press, 

 I have received a letter from Mr. Morton Allport, of Hobarton, 

 dated July 21st, 1865, in which he s?iys, "Three couple of 

 Snipe were shot on the Macquarie River near Ross, in Tas- 

 mania, last month (June) ; and several have been seen since. 



