AVES CHARADRIID^ 



337 



extremes in pale and dark Snipes of this species with the arid and damp 

 regions of Argentina seems likely. 



Geographical Range. — South America, from Para southward to Pata- 

 gonia and the Falkland Islands. Also Bolivia and Chili from Tarapaca 

 to the Straits of Magellan. Breeding probably throughout its range. 



The naturalists of the Princeton Expeditions found this Snipe at all 

 points which they visited. Mr. J. B. Hatcher has given the following MSS. 

 notes: "The Patagonian Jack Snipe is common in the tall grass about 

 streams and ponds and has the same general habits as the Jack Snipes 

 of other countries. It is distributed all over the Patagonian plains and 

 in the marshes and along the streams of the lower Andes." 



"Extremely plenty at Concepcion during the cold weather; less so in 

 summer, but many remain to breed. A set of three eggs was taken Sep- 

 tember 1 6, 1880, and two eggs from another nest on October 12. Both 

 nests were slight hollows in the ground, with a few bits of straw and grass 

 for lining. The eggs are as much like those of G. wilsoni as are the birds 

 themselves ; that is to say very similar indeed. During the winter the 

 Snipe collected in some of the marshes to the number of thousands, and 

 often twenty or thirty would rise at the report of the gun and circle about 

 in a loose flock before settling again. They were abundant in Carhue 

 early in April." (Barrows, Auk, I. p. 314. July, 1884.) 



" Resident apparently, though much more common at some seasons 

 than others. The comparative abundance probably depends upon the rain- 

 fall. In the latter half of October they were common along marshy canadas 

 and similar places on the Sauce. They were evidently there for breeding 

 purposes, as they were tame, often gave you a view of them on the ground, 

 were constantly ' drumming ' in the air, and on the ground uttering a note 

 like cliitttuk. The females (?) cried ' chnttitk' or ' cliuk-cluik-clntk' on 

 rising. The sound of the drumming differs from that produced by the 

 English Snipe ; it is a long shaking ^w/-/';'r;' (the sound can be reproduced 

 to some extent in the back of the human throat) ; sometimes it varies to 

 a deep low-noted hollow gityyyry, and, like our bird's drum, is audible at 

 a considerable distance. 



