|32 WITH BOAT AND GUN IN THE YANGTZE VALLEY. 



to vary between i6 and 24, but 20 is typical. Its general appearance at once distinguishes 

 it from all the other snipes found in China ; the brown of the upper parts is darker and 

 much more uniform, the pale edges to the feathers so marked in other species is much 

 narrower and very often often is whitish rather than buff. 



6.— JACK SNIPE: {Gallinago gaWnula) Linn^us. 



Like the common snipe the jack has a range extending from east to west of 

 the Old World. It is, however, much more plentiful in the west and in the central 

 part of its range than in the east ; eastwards of India it is a scarce bird. It breeds in 

 Siberia and passes in small numbers through China and Japan to winter in Formosa, 

 Burmah, the Malay Peninsula and perhaps the Malay Islands; the western birds 

 winter usually in Africa and in Europe: the central ones in Ceylon and India. Length 8 

 to 8J inches ; weight about 2 ounces, and is easily recognized by its small size and short bill 

 which only measures 1.5 to 1.7 inches. 



7.— PAINTED SNIPE : {Rhynchea capensis) Lixn^ds. 



This bird has a very wide range, being found in China, Japan, the Philippine and 

 Malay Islands, Burmah, India, Ceylon, and through Africa to Madagascar. It appears to 

 breed and be more or less a resident in all these countries, but in China at least a southerly 

 migration takes place in winter. It breeds in the Yangtze valley and certainly travels as 

 far north as Peking. It is not very common and is ordinarily met with singly or in pairs. 

 Length, 10 inches. 



It is easily distinguished from all true snipes by its short and curved bill and very 

 different plumage. Ashy grey and olive with buff and black markings characterize the 

 upper part of the plumage in the male ; the wings are ashy, with almost circular buff spots 

 on the feathers. The female is a more brightly plumaged bird than the male, with deep 

 rufous brown head and neck and a black band across the breast; the lower parts in both 

 sexes are white. 



Measurements, Weights and Tail Peculiarities 



Length. Weight. Tail Feathers. 



Tip of bill to end of tail. • 



Common Snipe lOJ m- * to 4J oz. 14. 



Pin-tailed do lOJ „ ^ „ 5 „ 26 10 central, 8 narrow, stiff on each side. 



Swinhoe's do llj to 12 in. 6 „ 8 „ 20 8 do. 6 do. 



Latham's do a little longer. a little heavier. 18 14 do. 2 do. 



Solitary do 12 to 13 in. 6 to 8 oz. 20 8 do. 6 do. 



Jack do 8 „ 8J „ 2 oz. 



Painted do »10. 



