* ^ 



Order GKALL^.] 



[Fam. SCOLOPACID^. 



GALLINAGO AUCKLANDICA. 



(AUCKLAND-ISLAND SNIPE.) 



Gallinago aucJclandica, Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terr., Birds, p. 13, pi. 13 (1844) 

 Scolopax holmesi, Peale, U, S. Expl. Exp. viii. p. 229 (1848). 

 Cmnocorypha aucJclandica^ Gray, Cat. Gen. of B. p. 119 (1855). 

 Gallinago pusilla^ Buller, Ibis, 1869, p. 41. 



Ad. suprk ocliraceo-fulvescens : pileo rufescenti-brunneo, plumis medialiter nigris : linea verticali et supercilio 



latissimo stramineis : coUo postico magis fulvescente, plnmis medialiter nigris : dorso rufescenti- 

 brunneo, plumis nigro irregulariter maculatis aut vermiculatis, scapularibus et dorsi plumis quibusdam 

 stramineo marginatis : tectricibus alarum dorso coiicoloribus : remigibus pallide brunneis^ secundariis 

 dorso concoloribus et eodum modo nigro maculatis et extus late stramineo limbatis : cauda brunneS, 

 rectricibus centralibus rufescente variis^ exterioribus pallide cinerascentibus medialiter saturatioribus : 

 facie lateral! straminea^ brunneo minute triquetre maculata^ linea per oculum ducta paidlo saturatiore : 

 subtiis fulvescens^ guM et abdomine immaculatis : gutture imo^ pectore superiore et laterali cum crisso 

 rufescenti-brunneis^ plumis saturatiore brunneo aut triquetre medialiter notatis, aut transversim 

 vermiculatis : subalaribus cinerascenti-brunneis : rostro grisescenti-corneo : pedibus pallide brunneis : 

 iride nigra. 



Adult. Crown of the head rufous brown^ varied with dark brown, and with a narrow fulvous line down the 

 middle ; forehead and cheeks fulvous white^ the former with an upward median streak of brown ; from 

 the base of the upper mandible to the anterior edge of the eyes a dull streak of the same ; upper surface 

 dark rufous brown, variegated with irregular spots of fulvous and black, especially on the back and 

 scapulars, each feather being margined outwardly with pale fulvous, and marked with a large subtermi- 

 nal spot of black; underparts of the body pale fulvous, the breast obscurely spotted, the sides and 

 flanks varied with crescentic marks of rufous brown. Iridcs black ; bill greyish brown ; tarsi and toes 

 pale brown. Length 8*5 inches; extent of wings 13; wing, from flexure^ 4; tail 1'5 ; bill, along the 

 ridge, 2 ; tarsus '85 ; middle toe and claw 1"1 ; hind toe and claw "3. 



In 1868 I received from Dr. Hector a small Snipe collected by Mr. Charles Traill during a visit 

 to the Chatham Islands, the specimen being accompanied by the following memorandum : 

 " Found on a small rocky islet off Chatham Island." A second specimen, in no vi^ay differing 

 from the first, and obtained in the same locality, was deposited by that gentleman in the Colonial 

 Museum. On comparing these birds with Mr. Gray's description of Gallinago aucklandica, I 

 concluded that the species was a distinct one, and characterized it accordingly {I. c.) as Gallinago 

 pusilla. Captain Hutton and Mr. Kirk have since recorded its occurrence in the Gulf of 

 Hauraki, near Auckland ; and Mr. Henry Travers has recently brought further examples from the 

 Chatham Islands. 



Having brought with me to England one of Mr. Traill's original specimens, and carefully 



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