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376. Jack Snipe. Gallinago gallinula Linnaeus. 



Gallinago gallinula. Shelley, p. 249. 



Very abundant in Lower Egypt from October to April. 



Length about 7 inches. Somewhat similar to the full 

 snipe, but smaller and with shorter bill and legs. The upper 

 parts are, moreover, more glossed with purple reflections. 



377. Great Snipe. Gallinago iJiajor (J. F. Gmelin). 



Gallinago major. Shelley, p. 248. 



At the present time this snipe is uncommon in Egypt. 



Length about 11 inches. Similar to the full snipe, but 

 heavier. Shorter legs and bill and more heavily barred under 

 parts, and a much greater amount of white in the tail. The 

 great snipe usually has sixteen tail feathers, whereas the full 

 snipe has fourteen. Sexes alike. 



378. Painted Snipe. RhyncJicea capensis Linna3us. 



Rhynchoea capensis. Shelley, p. 250. 



Common and resident. 



Length about 10 inches. Male, neck brownish grey mottled 

 on throat with white ; median and superciliary stripe and rmg 

 round eye buff ; crown and nape olivaceous brown ; hind neck 

 and fore part of back ashy bro^\Ti, narrowly barred with dark 

 brown ; rest of upper parts black, marked with rufous grey and 

 yellowish ; a wide buff stripe on each side of back ; wing coverts 

 and quills with oval yellowish and rufous spots ; tail and upper 

 tail coverts blue grey with yellowish spots and bars ; sides of 

 breast brown and black ; rest of under parts white. 



The female is far more brightly coloured ; the ring round 

 eye and superciliary stripe are w^hite ; sides of head, throat, 

 and upper breast chestnut red ; the upper parts are more deeply 

 coloured ; bill decurved at tip. Young birds resemble the male. 

 At all ages there is a pointed long white feather under the 

 scapulars. 



379. Turnstone. Strepsilas interpres (Lmnseus). 



Not mentioned by Shelley. 



Not uncommon on the coasts in the autumn. 



Length about 9 inches. Crown and nape white speckled 

 with dusky ; a patch behind the bill, lower breast, back, and 

 upper tail coverts pure white ; lores, a line through the eye, 



