of the Calcutta District. 7*3 



September^ and they are probably most numerous during 

 October and November. The greater number leave again in 

 February; but many remain throughout March and even 

 into April in exceptionally cold seasons, and I flushed one 

 from the edge of a tank close to some native huts on 

 April 30, 1891. 



Of the vast numbers, however, which visit the plains in 

 the winter, I have never heard of any remaining throughout 

 the year, though there are most likely places for them to 

 breed in many jheels, with an abundant supply of food 

 throughout the year. 



In this district the " pintail " is most plentiful, three- 

 fourths of those shot being of that species ; but in certain 

 jheels "fantails''^ are always more numerous. The fantails 

 certainly arrive later than the pintails. 



A friend of mine shot a Snipe on the summit of Sun- 

 dukphu — a mountain facing Darjeeling — in October. 



Snipe are seldom seen running, for, unlike the Sandpipers, 

 when disturbed they endeavour to conceal themselves by 

 crouching down close to the ground. 



134. Gallinago gallinula. (Jack Snipe.) 



A winter visitor, uncommon, and very sparsely distributed 

 throughout the district. 



135. Rhynch.ea capensis. (Painted Snipe.) 

 Resident, generally distributed in all suitable localities, but 



never very plentiful. On April 12, 1891, the female of a pair, 

 brought down at one shot, had largish eggs in her ovaries ; 

 the male, which was only wounded, on being approached 

 spread his beautifully eyed Avings and tail and made a sort 

 of hissing noise. On May 11, 1890, in a jheel near Natta- 

 gore, I flushed a pair of old birds, which rose with four 

 young ones just able to fly, and sought refuge in a large 

 reed-brake, on the outskirts of which they had been dis- 

 turbed. 



136. Tringoides hypoleucus. (Common Sandpiper.) 



A common winter visitor only to the shores and sandbanks 

 of the Hooghly, and never in the jheels, being invariably 



