GALLINAGO 



59 



Snipe in Burmah, three sho)} by himself, one shot by a Colonel Eyre, 

 and one shot by Mr. W. Perry. 



Distribution. — Sharpe, including raddel with his ccelestis, says that 

 its distribution is Europe generally and Northern Asia up to about 

 latitude 70°, migrating south in winter to Senegambia, N. E. Africa, 

 India, and the Malayan countries, as far as Batchiaa. It occurs in 

 Greenland, but only occasionally in North America, and is accidental 

 in Bermuda. 



Within our limits there is no portion of the Indian Empire from 

 east to west and north to south in which the Common Snipe will 

 not be found provided there is suitable country for it. It is, how- 

 ever, less numerous to the extreme south, and is less common in 

 the north-east than is the Pintail, and is rare in Southern Burmah, 

 but straggles into Malaya, and in 1907 I received a specimen from 

 Siam, whence it had not previously been recorded. Gyldenstolpe, 

 however, records the Common Snipe as occurring plentifully in Siam, 

 though in smaller numbers than the Pintail. This is corroborated by 

 the observations of both Gairdner and Williamson. Major Venning 

 informs me that he has repeatedly obtained it in the Chin Hills. 



Nidification. — There is very little on record about the breeding 

 of the Common Snipe within Indian limits, although it breeds 

 throughout the Himalayas at suitable elevations, and doubtless will 

 also be found breeding in the highest ranges of the Kachin and Shan 

 Hills where there is any suitable country for it. 



Mr. Bloech, in the notes already referred to, says, that he feels 

 sure, that in Burma Snipe sometimes remain to breed, and remarks 

 that he has " shot on several occasions early in the season quite young 

 birds with plumage not sufficiently developed to enable them to 

 travel any distance : besides, these birds were in excellent condition, 

 whereas the first arrivals in August are always on the light side." 



Brooks heard it drumming over a swamp in Kashmir, where it 

 doubtless had its nest, and Hume records that " numerous eggs have 

 been collected by native collectors." " The nests found in Kashmir 

 were described as cup-shaped hollows in soft, mossy, spongy turf, 

 surrounded or overhung by rushes and grass, and sparingly lined with 

 fine grass, and in one case with the needle-like leaves of a horse-tail 

 (Equisetuvi.) 



