GALLINAGO 761 



mere depression in the ground, scantily lined with a few grass- 

 bents, and the eggs, 4 in number, which are usually deposited 

 in the latter part of April, vary in ground-colour from stone- 

 greenish to greenish buff, with pale purplish grey underlying 

 shell-markings, and umber-brown surface spots and blotches, 

 and measure about 1'61 by 1*7. As a rule they are more 

 heavily blotched at the larger end. 



In North America, the present species is replaced by a 

 closely allied form, Gallinago delicata (Ord), differing in having 

 16 tail-feathers instead of 14 as in G. ccelestis, the under wing- 

 coverts and axillaries much more broadly barred with dull slate, 

 the bill shorter, usually below 2*75, and the tarsus shorter. 

 This form is said, on somewhat doubtful evidence, to have 

 occurred in Britain. 



1054. PIN-TAILED SNIPE. 

 GALLINAGO STENURA. 



Gallinago stenura (Kuhl), Me Bp. Ann. Stor. Nat. Bologna, iv. fasc. 

 xiv. p. 335 (1830) ; David and Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 478 ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. B. Br. Mus. xxiv. p. 619 ; (Seebohm), B. Jap. Emp. p. 345 ; 

 Tacz. F. 0. Sib. 0. p. 959 ; Blanf. F. Brit. Ind. Birds, iv. p. 289 ; 

 Dresser, Ibis, 1802, p. 179, pi. vi. figs. 3, 6 



ad. (N. Siberia). Differs from G. ccelestis in having normally 

 26 tail-feathers, the 10 middle ones broad, and the rest shorter, very 

 narrow and stiff, the wing lining and axillaries more broadly barred, the 

 bill not so broad at the point, and the white margins to the secondaries 

 narrower or obsolete. Culmen 2 '35, wing 4'8, tail T8, tarsus 1'25 inch. 

 Sexes alike. 



Hob. Siberia, west to the Yenesei valley, and has been 

 recorded from Japan ; in winter is found in China, Corea, 

 India, Ceylon, and the Malay archipelago. 



In habits it much resembles G. ccdestis, but owing to its 

 beak being less sensitive it probes less and feeds more on 

 insects, grubs, Crustacea, &c., than worms, is more often found 

 on dry grass and stubbles, and its cry is somewhat dissimilar, 

 and sharper. Its flight is heavier and more like that of 

 G. major, and its drumming sounds like bubbling water, and is 

 continued longer than that of G. ccelestis. It breeds on the 

 Yenesei in about 65 40' N. lat., its nest being similar to that 

 of G. ccelestis, but its 4 eggs are larger, more profusely marked, 

 especially at the larger end, and have the ground-colour as 

 in those of G. major. In size they average T65 by 1*18. 



