666 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI. 



ft 

 It seems curious that Hume makes no mention of this bird being found 



BO close to Simla, and if it had occurred here in his time, it is hardly possi- 

 ble that it would have escaped his notice. What seems very probable is 

 that it is only within very recent times that this species has extended its 

 range so high up. 



Stoliczka, in his " Ornithological observations in the Sutlej Valley" 

 (J. A. S. B,, Vol. XXXVII, pt. ii, p. 16), says that this kite is only an occa- 

 sional visitant to the lower hills ; he observed it between Suket and Mandi 

 on marshy ground, but not further in the interior. He adds that it is some- 

 times seen in the Kashmir Valley above Srinugger. 



P. T. L. DODSWORTH, f.z.s., m.b.o.u. 

 Simla, 23rcZ Octobex 1911. 



No. XX.— THE PAINTED SNIPE (ROSTRATULA CAPBNSIS). 



I see that in your publication of 20th May 1911, under the title of 

 Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon, you say that " there is, I 

 think, little doubt * * * that the female Painted Snipe is 

 polyandrous." 



This agrees entirely with what I noticed this year at the end of May, 

 round a large tank in the Central Provinces. 



On 25th May 1911 I noticed several Painted Snipe get up from a patch 

 of lilies by the edge of the tank. I then put two ofl' their nests, both of 

 which I shot and which proved to be males. Each nest contained four eggs 

 and incubation had started ; it is however worth noting that the lily patch 

 where one would invariably flush the birds was quite close to the strip of 

 ground where the two nests were found ; so the females were always near 

 at hand. Later in the day I found a nest with one egg in it on a small 

 island in the tank. It also was very curious that the birds when disturbed 

 simply flew backwards and forwards between this place and the lily patch. 

 In all I counted 16, and out of them I shot 9 ; 5 of these were males and 

 4 females ; there were however no more females, as the difference in sexes 

 is very noticeable when on the wing. All the birds I shot were old ones. 

 The nest in each case was in a hollow made by the hoof of some animal ; 

 in only one instance had a few dry rushes been made use of as a 

 lining. 



In all cases the nests were on dry ground among broken reeds and close 

 to water. Length of eggs : just under 1-49" ; beautifully marked and veiy 

 glossy. In December 1910, I noticed some Painted Snipe near a small 

 tank. I did not realize at the time that they were probably breeding 

 and always saw 3, On the 19th I shot all three and after that saw no 

 more ; they proved to be two old males and one old female. 



