356 ON RARE birds' EGGS FROM MADAGASCAR. [Apr. 4, 



mere identification of the species under the name bestowed upon it 

 by Pucheran (Rev. Zool. 18-15, p. 2/9). Thus, it appears in a col- 

 lection of Madagascar birds brought home by Mr. W. Gerrard, and 

 described by Professor Newton in the ' Proceedings ' of this Society, 

 1865, p. 832; it is noted as amongst the birds observed in Mada- 

 gascar by M. Grandidier between the years 1865-67 (Rev. et Mag. 

 de Zool. 1868, p. 4) ; and it appears again in a collection made in 

 Madagascar bv Mr. Grossley in 1869, and described by Mr. Sharpe, 

 P. Z.S. 1870,' p. 399. 



Dr. Hartlaub has of course included it in both his works on 

 Madagascar (Orn. Beitrag Faun. Madagasc. 1861, p. 7S, and 'Die 

 Vogel Madagascars,' 1877, p. 333) ; but Uttle information is given 

 concerning it beyond what had already been made known by Messrs. 

 Roch and Edward Newton in their remarks on Madagascar liirds, 

 published in 'The Ibis' in 1863, where the fullest notice which haa 

 appeared of this bird is given. 



These gentlemen state that they found it tolerably common along 

 the coast, where it had evidently just been breeding, as Dr. Roch 

 found a young one about four days old, on the 3rd October, between 

 Trauomaro and Mamorack ; unfortunately it was not preserved. In 

 colouring it was said to approach the 3'oung of Gallinago scolopacina 

 more than either G. major or G. (/cdUnula. 



In the valleys near Ambohitroni, about ninety-four miles from 

 the coast, Messrs. Roch and Newton found it more numerous, and 

 in about half an hour killed nine couple. Their flight was slow 

 and steady, and they did not twist in the least. These were 

 evidently not breeding. The largest measured was 19'25 inches in 

 extent of wing, and 17'5 inches from the tij) of the bill to the end 

 of the tail. 



According to Messrs. Roch and Newton sixteen appeared to be 

 the normal number of tail-feathers in this Snipe, or two more than 

 originally ascribed to the species by Bonaparte. Unfortunately, of 

 the three specimens of this bird now before me, not one of them has 

 the tail })erfect, so that at present I am unable to check the obser- 

 vations of my predecessors upon this point. 



With regard to the breeding of this sjjecies. Dr. Hartlaub has 

 briefly described the egg (Vogel Madagascars, p. 335), and Dr. Roch, 

 as already stated, found a young one which he was unable to preserve. 

 I have now before me both egg and young, brought home by Mr. 

 Deans Cowan from Fianarantsoa, Betsileo, where the bird is called 

 Kelakel-a. The native name Sava-rava referred to this species by 

 Prof. Newton, in the Catalogue already referred to (P. Z. S. 1865, 

 p. 832), is, according to j\Ir. Deans Cowan, properly applicable to the 

 Painted Snipe (lihi/ncficea capensis). 



The egg, which measures 1-7 inch by 1"2 at its greatest diameter, 

 is of a honey-yellow colour (Werner), spotted chiefly at the larger end 

 with umber-brown. 



The young bird when a few dnys old is scarcely to be distinguished 

 from the young of our Common Snipe (G. scolopacina) at the same 

 age, save for its gieater length of bill, legs, and toes. As regards 



