GALLIXAGO. 285 



about 1*65 by 1*4. Woodcocks sometimes carry their young 

 between their feet; Mr. Littledale recently saw this done in 

 Chamba, and Mr. Davidson in Kashmir. 



Genus GALLINAGO, Leach, 1816. 



The Snipes are distinguished from the Woodcocks by a different 

 kind of plumage, and especially by having longitudinal pale bands 

 on the head and scapulars, instead of the transverse head-markings 

 and blotched scapulars of Scolopax. The lower part of the tibia 

 is bare; but in this respect there is a gradual passage into the 

 feathered tibia of the Woodcock. The number of tail-feathers 

 varies from 12 to 28. 



The Jack-Snipe, G. gdllinula, with only 12 tail-feathers and 

 4 ernarginations instead of 2 in the sternum, is by many regarded 

 as forming a distinct genus, Limnocryptes. 



About 20 species of Snipes are known, of these 5 are Indian. 



Key to the Species. 



a. A pale median band on crown ; bill exceeding- 



2-5. 



a'. Distance between tip of shortest second- 

 ary and that of longest primary not ex- 

 ceeding 2 in. ; abdomen barred throughout. G. nemoricola, p. 285. 

 b'. Tip of shortest secondary short of longest 

 primary by more than 2 in.: abdomen, 

 with rare exceptions, not barred. 

 a". Wing 5 to 5-5 ; borders of scapulars buff. 

 a 3 . Tail-feathers 14-16 ; broad white tips 



to secondaries G. c&lestis, p. 286. 



b*. Tail-feathers about 26 ; narrow white 



tips to secondaries or none G. stenura, p. 289. 



b". Wing 6'25 to 675 ; borders of scapulars 



white G. solitaria, p. 290. 



b. No pale median band on crown ; bill about 



1-75 G. gallinula, p. 292. 



1483. Gallinago nemoricola. The Wood-Snipe. 



Scolopax gallinago, Hodys. Gleanings in Science, iii, p. 240 (1831) ; 

 nee Linn. 



Gallina{ro nemoricola, Hodgs. P. Z. S. 1836, p. 8 ; id. J. A. S. B. vi, 

 p. 490 ; Blyth, Cat. p. 272 ; Adams, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 506 ; Irbi/, 

 Ibis, 1861, p. 241; Jerdim, B. I. iii, p. 672 ; Blyth, Ibis, 1867, 

 p. 166 ; Hume 8f Dav. S. F. vi, p. 459 ; Hume, Cat. no. 868 ; 

 Scully, S. F. viii, p. 353 ; Legge, Birds Ceyl. p. 814 ; Hume $ 

 Marshall, Game B. iii, p. 325, pi. ; Butler, & F. ix, p. 428 ; Reid, 

 S. F. x, p. 68 ; Ditmas, ibid. p. 173 ; Davison, ibid, p. 413 ; Gates, 

 B. B. ii, p. 385 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 344 ; C. H. T. Marshall, 

 Ibis, 1884, p. 424; Hume, 8. F. xi, p. 318; Oates in Humes 

 N. fy E. 2nd ed. iii, p. 350 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxiv, p. 657. 



Scolopax nemoricola, Jerdon, III. Ind. Orn. pi. ix ; Nevill, J. A. S. B. 

 Ceylon, 1867-70, p. 138; Seebohm, Charadr. p. 474. 



Coloration generally much duller than that of G. ccelestis. 

 Upper parts black; a narrow median coror.al stripe and superciliary 



