120 GAME-BIRDS OF I^IDIA 



Genus ROSTRATULA. 



The genus Eo.^fratiila is perhaps more nearly allied to certain of 

 the sandpipers than to the true snipes, and is certainly nearer the 

 former in anatomy. The bill is long, as in the snipes, but is curved 

 gently downwards, and is swollen at the tip, and the upper mandible 

 does not overlap the lower as in Gallinago. The retractile muscles 

 are also absent, so that in the dry bill no pits show, though both 

 mandibles are grooved. The eyes, though very large and snipe-like, 

 are placed well forward ; the legs are rather long and very sturdy, 

 the toes long, and the tibia naked for some distance above the joint. 



The general plumage is more lax than in the snipes, and the 

 wings are broad, but rather short. The tail contains fourteen feathers. 

 The sexes are quite different in plumage, whilst the windpipe of the 

 female Painter is longer than that of the male, and curves into one 

 full loop. 



The genus contains three species, our Indian bird, which also 

 extends to Africa, and two others which inhabit Australia and South 

 America respectively. 



The sportsman can confound the Painted Snipe with no other 

 bird ; for, as soon as it is in his hand, he sees that it is a snipe 

 or snippet of some kind with wonderfully painted plumage ; and 

 there is no other species of the Charadriidse which can comp£|,re with 

 it in colouration, though some of the sandpipers in their rufous 

 breedmg plumage are very handsome. 



