BULLET AND SHOT 



caterpillars inhabiting drier ground than those com- 

 posing the ordinary diet of the other bird. 



The females of this species are large and possess 

 longer bills than do males of the same age. Hume, 

 after compiling the results of the examination of 

 nearly one hundred specimens, thus states the 

 range of variation : males, 3^ oz. to 4f oz. ; females,. 

 3f oz. to 5^ oz. Average of both sexes, 4 oz. 



III. THE JACK SNIPE (Gallinago gallinula) 



This bird too is migratory, and, although found 

 all over most parts of India where wet land occurs, 

 is rare in many places largely resorted to by the 

 two preceding species. He is further more fas- 

 tidious in his choice of localities, and in some 

 seasons, in the same spots, is far more common 

 than in others. I have often found jacks in places 

 which were too wet for the other birds, but I do 

 not remember having ever shot more than three 

 or four couple in a day amongst a large bag of 

 snipe. 



Jacks, as a rule, lie very close, and rise and go 

 off with a comparatively slow but erratic flight, 

 and they are perhaps more often missed than are 

 their larger cousins. When fired at and missed, 

 they can usually be marked down often not far 

 off and, once flushed, generally come into the 

 bag. 



This tiny bird, which is considered by epicures 

 to surpass the other species in delicacy of flavour,, 

 weighs only from ij oz. to 2^ oz. 



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