356 ON RARE BIRDS’ EGGS FROM MADAGASCAR. __ [Apr. 4, 
mere identification of the species under the name bestowed upon it 
by Pucheran (Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 279). 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 by Mr. Crossley in 1869, and described by Mr. Sharpe, 
P. Z.8. 1870, p. 399. 
Dr. Hartlaub has of course included it in both his works on 
Madagascar (Orn. Beitrag Faun. Madagase. 1861, p. 78, and ‘ Die 
Vogel Madagascars,’ 1877, p. 333); but little information is given 
concerning it beyond what had already been made known by Messrs. 
Roch and Edward Newton in their remarks on Madagascar birds, 
published in ‘ The Ibis’ in 1863, where the fullest notice which has 
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 
Tranomaro and Mamorack ; unfortunately it was not preserved. In 
colouring it was said to approach the young of Gallinago scolopacina 
more thau either G. major or G. gallinula. 
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 tip 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 perfect, 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 species, 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 
Kekakeka. The native name Rava-rava referred to this species by 
Prof. Newton, in the Catalogue already referred to (P.Z.S. 1865, 
p- 832), is, according to Mr. Deans Cowan, properly applicable to the 
Painted Snipe (Lthynchea capensis). 
The egg, which measures 1-7 inch by 1-2 at its greatest diameter, 
is of a honey-yellow colour (Weruer), spotted chiefly at the larger end 
with umber-brown. 
The young bird when a few days old is scarcely to be distinguished 
from the young of our Common Snipe (G. scolopacina) at the same 
age, save for its greater length of bill, legs, and toes. As regards 
