78 GAME-BIRDS OP INDIA 



GALLINAGO GALLINAGO RADDEI, Buturlin. 



EADDE'S SNIPE. 



Scolopax gallinago raddei, Buturlin, Wadcis of the Russian Empire, 

 Part I, p. 56 (1902). 



Description. — " Differs from the Western form of the Common 

 Snipe in having the pale longitudinal stripes over the upper parts of 

 the body conspicuously broader, 2 to 4 mm. wide, the median pale 

 stripe on the crown wider, the dark parts of the feathers of the 

 mantle more freckled with rufous, the chest less spotted with 

 brown, the wing lining and axillaries less conspicuously barred with 

 greyish-brown, the axillaries being often quite white." 



The above description was obtained for me by Mr. H. E. Dresser, 

 and is translated from the original Russian of Buturlin. 



The breeding range of this snipe is given by Buturlin as follows : — 



" Breeds in Eastern Siberia, east to Kamtchatka, and even 

 the Commander Isles, and west to the Bogauida, Taimyr and 

 Krasnoyarstk." 



Theoretically, therefore, this snipe should migrate in winter to 

 the whole of Southern China, and should visit Burmah and Eastern 

 India in considerable numbers. As a matter of fact, however, typical 

 specimens are not common, even in the east of India, though on the 

 other hand, it may be found occasionally as far west as Bombay. Of 

 the series of Fantail Snipe in the Asiatic Museum, there are but three 

 specimens which can, without doubt, be allotted to this sub-species, 

 and of these three one— strange to say — comes from Abyssinia ! In 

 Eastern Bengal, Assam and Burmah we shall find a very large 

 proportion of birds more or less approach this race in the colouration 

 of their axillaries and under wing-coverts, and to a less extent also in 

 that of their upper plumage, but really typical specimens will be few 

 and far between. 



My own experience, gained from a close examination of my own 

 bags and those of other sportsmen whenever possible, has been pro- 



