262 MR. F. FINN ON THE PAINTED SNIPE [Apr. 15, 



I. The Painted Snipe. 



This species, although not so abundantly brought into the 

 Calcutta Provision Market as the true Snipes Gallinago codestis 

 and G. stemira, is nevertheless commonly to be had during the 

 winter, and I have kept many examples. They bear confinement 

 well on the whole, but never become propei'ly tame, although 

 they will let themselves be caught more readily than most birds. 

 This is no doubt largely due to the fact that they are in the habit 

 of either crouching to avoid detection — their olive-green dorsal 

 coloration, with yellow longitudinal stripes, making for protection — 

 or of endeavouring to frighten off an otherwise unavoidable enemy 

 by hissing and expanding their spotted wings. When only 

 slightly alarmed they open the wings without spreading them ; if 

 still more persecuted, they expand the further wing and raise 

 it ; while, in desperation, they spread both wings and the tail, 

 forming a most beautiful fan. Both sexes do this equally, and, 

 so far as I can judge, make much the same sound, which is like 

 that produced by plunging a hot iron into water. At the same 

 time they crouch down close to the ground. I have seen them 

 show off in this way to other birds — a Rail, a Ruff, and a Pitta, 

 none of which were at all impressed by the display. I have, 

 however, seen a Golden Plover {Charadrius fulvus) frightened 

 thereby, although this species is bold and pugnacious with other 

 birds. 



I have no doubt that the natives who informed Hume that 

 this was also the position assumed during courtship were correct 

 in their statements, since in so many birds the so-called courting 

 postures are merely those assumed on any excitement, as may be 

 well seen in the Turkey and Muscovy Dvick. 



When at rest the Painted Snipe squats down with the breast 

 on the ground and the tail up, the bill also pointed downwards. 

 At such times the head has a smooth rounded appearance. When, 

 however, the bird is moving about, there appear two superciliary 

 ridges, which give the head a quite different expression and 

 show off the magnificent dark eyes. There is also during move- 

 ment an up-and-down motion of the hinder part of the body, 

 similar to that observable in the Common Sandpiper (Tringoides 

 hypoleucus), but slower. 



This so-called Snipe appears never to bore for food, but it will 

 search for it in water, or even sand, with a motion mtich like 

 that of the Spoonbill. It eats grain — paddy and canary-seed — 

 readily, the latter seeming to be best assimilated, although the 

 former is more readily taken. It will also devour maggots, but 

 appears not to care about worms. The flight is entirely Rail-like, 

 and when the bird is skulking along to hide, the gait is also like 

 that of a Rail. Like a Rail, also, the Painted Snipe swims 

 readily, but this of course is not an important point, as the power 

 of swimming is general among the Waders. The grain-eating 

 habit is also common to the Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit among 

 the family allies of Rostratula. 



