ABOO AND NORTH GUZERA.T. 213 



Then again Mr. J. C. Parker and Mr. G. P. Marshall say « it 

 is larger than the common snipe/' My specimens, I regret to 

 say, were not weighed ; and so I cannot compare weights. As 

 for the other supposed characteristics giren by Dr. Jerdon, 

 such as richly barred, lower wing-coverts, shorter beak and 

 slightly shorter tarsus and feet, I hardly believe in the 

 reliability of these, as I laid three Pin-tails this season on 

 a table with eighteen common Snipe, all freshly killed and in the 

 flesh, and although in many instances their characteristics were 

 apparent, still in other instances, I could see no difference 

 between the two species whatever, except in the increased num- 

 ber and attenuation of the lateral tail-feathers. Then again 

 these narrow pointed tail-feathers seem to vary constantly in 

 numbers. In one of my specimens there were seven on each 

 side ; in another eight, and in another nine. The greatest number 

 of feathers in any one specimen including the whole tail being 

 twenty-four, in some there were only twenty-two. All of the 

 tails I refer to, seemed to he perfect, that is to say where only seven 

 and eight lateral feathers existed, I should not say that any feathers 

 had been shed. Mr. Parker says that stenura according to his ex- 

 perience does not frequent the same ground as scolopacmus, and 

 both he and Mr. Marshall are of opinion that the flight of 

 stenura is more laboured. The birds obtained by me were not 

 only shot upon the same ground as scolopacinus, viz., along the 

 edges of rice fields, but, in many instances, the two species rose 

 simultaneously, and it was not, until I had shot the birds aud 

 examined them, that I distinguished the species. As regards 

 the flight, I must admit, that occasionally when solitary indi- 

 viduals of stenura have risen, the flight has struck me as beino- 

 more laboured and heavier than in scolopacinus, but then agaiu 

 when the two species were on the wing at the same time, I did 

 not observe any difference in their flight. As to the call I 

 have never noticed any difference in the et sca-a-ape" of the 

 two species. In conclusion, after carefully reviewing the whole 

 of the facts before me, I am inclined to think that the lateral 

 tail-feathers are the only safe criterion to go by in separating 

 the two species. 



Measurements taken in the flesh as follows : — 



G. stenura, Temm. 



Length. Wing. Tail. Bill at F. Bill at G. Expanse. Sox. Locality. 



1087. 5-18. 275. 262. 25. 17 75. ? Deesa. 



10-62. 5-12. 2-31. 25. 2 43. 1787. ? Bo. 



10-62. 5-25. 256. 2 56. 2 46. 1725. ? Do. 



1075. 525. 2 75. 25. 25. l7o. ? Do. 



Legs and feet, greenish lead ; irides, dark brown ; bill, pale 



horny brown, darkening towards the tip. In some the tail- 



d 4 



