106 GAME-BIRDS OF INDIA 



they show a decided penchant for jungle ground. The last I shot, 

 26th December, was obtained near Palon, about fifty miles up the 

 Prome railway line, on the edge of a large jheel (Hlahama gret-su) 

 situated in the middle of thick jungle." 



Mr. L. S. Fraser writes as follows from 17, American Street, 

 Madras, to Mr. Millard:— 



" There were several specimens of this snipe shot in Madras this 

 season, all in the Chingleput district, Mr. Stoney had two, my 

 partner, Mr. Graham Boss, shot one, and I had three " (26.4.1912). 



This snipe is essentially a far eastern form, but there is no 

 reason why it should not be found fairly constantly in Burmah, 

 and also, occasionally, in Assam and the extreme East of Bengal. 

 Unfortunately casual examinations of big bags of snipe are of no 

 use in ascertaining whether specimens of mecjala form a part with 

 others, but if sportsmen will take the trouble to examine really 

 carefully the tail of those shot, there can be but little doubt that we 

 shall soon obtain further records of its visiting India, more especially 

 in its extreme eastern limits. 



There is practically nothing on record about this snipe, although 

 it is common enough in its own habitat. It is only within the last 

 two years that its nidification has become known, and even such 

 records as these are confined to Eussian works. Dresser informs 

 me that he has received eggs from Buturlin which were taken in 

 Eastern Siberia, and he exhibited some of these at one of the dinners 

 of the British Ornithologists' Union. 



