488 



SCOLOPAX. 



vary so much and so constantly in the direction of the Nearctic Snipe, that they must be 

 regarded as little better than a race of mongrels. 



Diagnosis. 



Syiionytnj'. 



Literature. 



Specific 

 characters. 



*^* South-American Snipes and Semi- Woodcocks. 



SCOLOPAX STRICKLANDI. 



STRICKLAND'S SNIPE. 



ScoLOPAX pileo in longitudinem striate : rectricibus quatuordecim omnibus fasciatis : tibiis ferfe 

 omnino vestitis : pectore et abdomine fulvis vix brunneo notatis. 



Variations. No local races of this species are known. 



Gallinago stricklandii, Gray, List Birds Brit. Mus. iii. p. 112 (1844). 



Scolopax meridionalis, Peale, U. S. Expl. Exp. 1838-42, viii. p. 229 (1848). 



Scolopax spectabilisj Hartlaub, Naum. 1853, p. 216. 



Scolopax Strickland! {Gray), Sharpe, Zool. Voy. Erebus and Terror, Birds, App. p. 38 (1875). 



Plates.— Gray, Zool. Voy. Erebus and Terror, pi. 23 ; Cassin, U. States Exploring Exp. ed. 2, 



viii. pi. 35. fig. 1. 

 Habits.— Peale, U. States Exploring Exp. 1838-42, viii. p. 229. 

 Eggs. — Obtained by Mr. Berkeley James in Chili. 



Strickland's Snipe is easily distinguished from the typical Woodcocks by the 

 longitudinal markings of the crown. The two additional characters of tibia feathered almost 

 to the joint, and tail consisting of only \^ feathers, distinguish it from both the typical 

 and aberrant Snipes, and from one of the Semi- Woodcocks (S. undulata). Prom two 

 other Semi- Woodcocks the bars on the outer tail-feathers is a sufficient distinction ; but 

 from Jameson's Snipe it can only be distinguished by the buff colour of all the pale parts, 

 and by the almost entire absence of dark markings on the breast and belly. 



The superficial resemblance between Strickland's Snipe and the Solitary Snipe is 

 somewhat remarkable, but they have very diff'erent tails. Strickland's Snipe appears to 

 have only 14 tail-feathers. The four outer ones on each side vary in width from "22 to 

 •45 inch, and are black narrowly barred with buff. The six central feathers are broader, 

 and the buff more nearly approaches chestnut, but the black scarcely becomes confluent on 

 the outer webs, and leaves traces of buff-chestnut bars on the margin of the inner web. 

 The Sohtary Snipe, on the other hand, has 18 tail-feathers. The four outer ones on each 

 side vary in width from "1 to "25 inch, and are brown, narrowly barred with white. 



