THE PIN-TAIL SNIPE 



feathers which compose the tail of the common 

 snipe are fourteen in number, occasionally sixteen, 

 and very rarely only twelve. These are broad, 

 and are similar to those found in the caudal appen- 

 dage of the English bird. The pin-tail, on the 

 other hand, has but ten broad tail feathers, on 

 either side of which are from five to nine very 

 narrow, pointed, stiff ones from which the bird 

 derives his name. 



In some localities the first species predominates, 

 and in others the second ; while in many places 

 both occur in almost equal proportions. I have 

 only occasionally taken the trouble to examine the 

 tails of a bag of snipe (the pin feathers in the pin- 

 tail lie underneath, and are concealed by the broad 

 ones), and I have kept no record of the relative 

 proportions found in different districts. 



The common snipe practically has it all its own 

 way in the North -West Provinces and part of 

 Oudh, the other species not favouring those 

 localities. 



II. THE PIN-TAIL SNIPE (Gallinago Sthenura) ' 



Although in the North- West and parts of Oudh 

 this bird is very rare, in some localities he appears 

 in far greater numbers than does the preceding 

 species. Like the common snipe, this bird is 

 migratory, and arrives in India a little before the 

 former. 



His menu comprises the food of the common 

 snipe, and in addition insects, such as grubs and 



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