MR. FINN ON RHYNCILEA 



birds, the Limicolae, which embraces the true snipes. 

 The Indian sportsman knows that it neither behaves nor 

 tastes like a snipe. The anatomist tells precisely the 

 same tale. It is perhaps rather to the jaganas, those 

 extraordinary long-toed birds, which walk upon the 

 leaves of aquatic plants both in the Old World and 

 the New, that the Rhynchcea approaches most nearly 

 in structure. It has too, according to Mr. F. Finn, a 

 skulking and furtive gait like that of a rail. The first, 

 and so far the only, specimens brought to the Zoo were 

 sent over by the same gentleman in 1902. The bird is 

 unmistakably of the Limicoline order. It has the long 

 bill of the majority of that tribe. Its colours are striking 

 and yet are held to be " protective " ; the back is olive 

 green with yellow stripes. The behaviour of this bird 

 has been carefully studied by Mr. Finn. During 

 courtship they spread their wings and crouch down, 

 something after the fashion of the ruff ; they utter co- 

 inciden tally a sound " like that produced by plunging 

 a hot iron into water." The same attitudes and actions 

 are, however, produced by dismay, and are thought to 

 be alarming to enemies. At any rate, Mr. Finn saw a 

 golden plover which seemed to be frightened by this 

 display. 



THE GLAUCOUS GULL 



In many respects this is one of the finest of the gull 

 tribe. It is at least one of the largest. As a rule a 

 specimen may be seen in the enclosure devoted to the 

 gulls at the Zoo. The glaucous gull is not strictly a 

 British species ; it is like many forms which inhabit 

 the northern regions, circumpolar in habitat. Its 

 occasional inclusion in the fauna of this country is due 

 to infrequent visitations to these islands. The only 

 equal of the glaucous gull in size is the great black- 

 backed gull (Larus marinus), which is also a bird to be 



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