Painted Snipe in Ceylon. 531 



which, to an onlooker, seem several sizes too large for 

 them. 



I regret that I have never dissected out the nerve- 

 terminations in the bill of Rostratula, for it would be 

 interesting to know whether there is a dense plexus of non- 

 medullated fibres derived from the fifth nerve similar to that 

 found in the bills of the true Scolopacidae. 



The Painted Snipe is not an easy bird to flush ; it lies 

 very close, and when almost trodden on, rises silently, not 

 uttering even the monosyllabic " Tchk/'' so chai'acteristic of 

 the Snipe. The flight is gliding and rather Owl-like, very 

 diff'eient to the swift erratic twisting of the other Snipes ; 

 it is generally short, and the bird drops into cover rather 

 suddenly. 



On one occasion I saw a wounded Rostratula swim, and 

 the young birds take to the water readily if attempting to 

 escape pursuit. 



There has been a good deal of speculation and surmise 

 regarding the nesting-habits of Rostratula and the part 

 played by the two sexes in the discharge of the parental 

 duties. Legge states that the breeding-season lasts from 

 November to May, or else that the birds nest indiscriminately 

 at all times of the year. I obtained either the eggs or 

 young as follows : — 



September 31, 1907 4 eggs. 



October 4, 1907 2 young birds. 



February 11, 1906 3 eggs. 



February 18, 1908 3 young birds. 



March 11, 1910 3 young birds. 



March 14, 1910 3 nearly adult young. 



These dates, though hardly numerous enough to justify a 

 decided opinion, seem to indicate that October to February 

 are the favourite breeding-months. 



The nest is at best a very rough structure, consisting of 

 stubble bent and trodden down to form a slight concavity; 

 it is placed in the open paddy-fields, and. has no "roof" like 

 that of some water-birds. 



