470 



SCOLOPAX. 



A. Typical Snipes. Markings on the head longitudinal. Tibia bare of feathers for some 

 distance above the joint. Number of tail-feathers not exceeding 16. No bars 

 on the inner webs of the primaries. 



Ground-colour of outer tail- 

 feathers pure white. 



Width of outer tail-feathers 

 less than J in. 



Tarsus, middle toe, and claw 

 3-4 to 3-6 in. 



Of these, 8. nobilis, S. macrodactyla, and S. csquatorialis are resident species, in which 

 the shortest secondaries project far beyond the longest primary-coverts ; but, unfortunately 

 for the importance of the character, some of the local races of 8. frenata are resident and 

 others migratory, so that both forms of wing occur within the limits of that species. 



B. Aberrant Snipes. 



Markings 



on 



the head longitudinal. 



Tibia sometimes, but very 

 seldom, feathered to the joint. Number of tail-feathers exceeding 16. Bars on 

 the inner webs of the primaries absent or confined to the terminal half. 



26 tail-feathers, of which 16 



stenura 



are less than '2 in. wide. 

 20 tail-feathers, of which 12 



are less than "3 in. wide. 

 Some feathers of the upper 



parts margined with white. 



Secondaries extending -6 in. 



beyond primary-coverts. 

 18 tail-feathers, of which only 



4 are less than "3 in. wide. 



Of these species 8. solitaria and 8. nemoricola often have the tibia feathered nearly to 



megala 

 solitaria ■ 

 nemoricola 

 australis • 



