THE PINTAIL SNIPE. 383 



but of course a great deal depends on whether the soil is suitable for 

 worms, the chief food of this Snipe. Before attempting to struggle through 

 a muddy paddy-field in Burmah, it is advisable to examine the ground for 

 traces of the small holes the Snipe makes in searching for worms, and if 

 none are visible, it is generally a sign that there are few or no Snipe in the 

 vicinity. 



In Europe the Common Snipe deposits four eggs in a depression in the 

 ground in April, amongst rushes, grass or heather. In Cashmeer it lays in 

 May. The eggs are buff varying to greenish, blotched with various shades 

 of brown. 



728. GALLINAGO STENURA. 

 THE PINTAIL SNIPE. 



Scolopax stenura*, Kuhl, Bonap. Osserv. sulla sec. ediz. Regn. Anim. Cuv. Monog. 

 Scolopax, p. 121. Scolopax horsfieldii, J. E. Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 2. Galli- 

 nago stenura, Jerd. B. 2nd. ii. p. 674 ; G. F. L. Marshall, S. F. i. p. 423 ; 

 Cripps, S. F. i. p. 496 ; Hume, S. F. ii. p. 294 ; Parker, S. F. ii. p. 335 j Salvad. 

 Ucc. Born. p. 334; Bl. B. Burm. p. 156; Armstrong, S. F. iv. p. 340; Butler, 

 S. F. v. p. 212 ; David et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 478 ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi. p. 459 ; 

 Cripps, S. F. vii. p. 301 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 112 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, p. 816 ; 

 Scully, S. F. viii. p. 354 ; Bingham, S. F. viii. p. 196, ix. p. 196 ; Oates, S. F. x. 

 p. 288. Gallinago horsfieldii, Hume, S. F. iii. p. 182. 



Description. Male and female. Similar in coloration and size to 

 G. ccelestis, differing in the characters pointed out above. 



The Pintail Snipe is universally distributed over Burmah and excessively 

 common during the cold season. 



In the winter months it is found throughout India and Ceylon, the 

 Indo-Burmese countries, China, Cochin China, Siam, the Malay peninsula 

 and many of the islands. In summer it retires to Central Asia and 

 Southern and Eastern Siberia, where it breeds. 



The Pintail Snipe arrives in Burmah about the middle of AugJ.st, and 

 by the first of September the whole Province is overrun by them, i It is 

 excessively abundant, and I doubt if any other country in the world can 

 afford such excellent Snipe-shooting as Burmah in the months of September 

 and October. 



In November large numbers of this Snipe depart, and by 'January com- 



* There has been considerable discussion regarding the derivation of this word, all based 

 on the supposition that Bonaparte used the word " sthenura" A reference to the original 

 description would have rendered this discussion unnecessary, for Bonaparte spells the 

 word " stenura " in the work quoted. 



