354 a" CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 



side, gradually increasing in width from the outermost, and 

 none of them so narrow as in G. sthenura. 



The Solitary Snipe is not uncommon in the valley of Nepal 

 from October to the beginning of March, being represented 

 in larger numbers than either the Woodcock or Wood Snipe. 

 It is found at the foot of the hills all round the valley, on 

 sloping grass-covered ground, in the nullahs of small stream- 

 lets running down from the hills. It is as often found in 

 pairs as singly, and does not seem ever to seek the shelter of 

 bushes or forests. Its flight is slower and heavier than that 

 of either the Pintail or Common Snipe. 



870.— Grallinago sthenura, Kuhl. 



Sixteen males. — Length, 9"9 to 10"9 ; expanse, 16*3 to 17*3 ; 

 wing, 5*0 to 5-35 ; tail, 2-3 to 2*5 ; tarsus, 1-2 to 1*25 ; bill 

 from gape, 2-2 to 2*45 ; bill at front, 2*2 to 2*43 ; closed 

 wings short of tail, 0*5 to 0"8. 



Ten females. — Length, 10" 1 to 11; expanse, 16"7tol7-5; 

 wing, 5-17 to 5-5 ; tail, 2-2 to 2-6 ; tarsus, 1-2 to 1'25 ; bill 

 from gape, 2-5 to 2-6; bill at front, 2-45 to 2-6. 



Five birds (male and female) weighed from 3*3 to 4 ozs. 



In all these specimens the axillaries and under wing-coverts 

 are strongly barred with brownish black. The narrow lateral 

 tail feathers vary in number from six to nine on each side ; 

 but they are not always symmetrically developed : for in six 

 examples with the tails apparently quite perfect I found the 

 number of these feathers to be, 6-7, 7-8, 7-8, 7-8, 8-9. In 

 four specimens these narrow tail feathers could not at first 

 be detected, but on carefully holding aside the tail-coverts, 

 the modified feathers were clearly seen just grooving, and 

 often not more than a tenth of an inch in length ; in other 

 respects these four birds were of full size and apparently adult. 



The Pin-tailed Snipe is exceedingly common in the valley 

 of Nepal, in winter, arriving at the end of August and 

 migrating northwards about the beginning of May ; it is most 

 abundant in September and October, and again in March 

 and April. It frequents rather drier ground than the Common 

 Snipe, being often found in fields grown with potatoes, mus- 

 tard, radishes, &c.; audit proclaims its affinity to G. solitaria by 

 occasionally associating with it, in the colder months, about 

 the grassy ground at the foot of the hills. But it is also 

 constantly found in company with the Common Snipe. Its 

 flight may be slightly heavier than that of the latter species, 

 but where both birds occur in numbers, I believe the most 

 experienced sportsman will be quite unable to distinguish 

 gallinaria from sthenura on the wing. 



