RHYNC1LEA CAPENSIS. 803 



also from Raipur. Mr. Cripps believes it to be a permanent species in Furreedpore. At the Sambhur Lake it 

 is found in the rains ; but in Sindh it is only a cold-season straggler, though in Guzerat it is more plentiful at 

 that time. Captain Butler, who writes of it as common there, says that it arrives at the end of August, and 

 breeds in September and October near Ahmedabad and Erinpoora. Captain Hayes-Lloyd considers it to be a 

 permanent bird in Kattiawar. Turning eastwards I find that it is not recorded as ascending the Himalayas ; but 

 in Cachar it is, according to Mr. Inglis, rare ; and in Burmah, according to Mr. Oates, it is common. Further 

 south we find it rarer ; in the Rangoon district Captain Wardlaw Ramsay has procured it, and at Moulmein it has 

 been shot by Captain Bingham. We have no data of its occurrence in the Malay Peninsula; but it doubtless 

 will be some day added to its avifauna. In Sumatra it was obtained by Sir Stamford Raffles and by Herr S. 

 Miiller. In Java it was observed by Horsfield, Boie, Kuhl, and Van Hasselt ; and Croockwit has added it to 

 the avifauna of Borneo. It was first obtained in the Philippines by Cuming, but the locality is unknown ; 

 recently, however, it was procured in the island of Mindanao at Zamboanga, by the officers of H.M.S. 'Chal- 

 lenger/ Returning towards the continent we find Swinhoe recording it from Hainan and from Formosa, in 

 the latter of which islands it was tolerably common. He obtained it at Amoy, and notes in his Catalogue 

 (P. Z. S. 1871) that it is found throughout China in the summer. In the Japanese islands it breeds on 

 Fujisan, as noticed by Messrs. Blakiston and Pryer, and is also found at Tokio and at Yokohama. Von 

 Siebold also procured it in Japan. Prjevalsky met with it in S.E. Mongolia, and found it breeding at 

 Lake Tsaidemin-nor. 



I find no statement of it inhabiting Western Asia save that of Antinori that it occurs in Asia Minor ; 

 but in uniting the African species with it, we find the Painted Snipe common in portions of Northern Africa, 

 whence Messrs. Shelley, Taylor, and Gurney have recorded it. In the ' Birds of Egypt ; the former gentleman 

 writes, "This species ranges throughout Egypt and Nubia, and is not uncommon at times in the Delta and 

 the Fayoom, where it may occasionally be met with in flocks, though more often singly. It remains in the 

 country throughout the year, and breeds in May." Both sexes, especially the female, are very well figured in 

 Captain Shelley's excellent plate. In West Abyssinia Von Heuglin obtained it in February, and he remarks 

 that it is very common in Lower Egypt ; in the coast districts Mr. Blanf ord got it, and Brehm and 

 Vierthaler observed it on the Blue Nile in December. Von Heuglin also found it breeding in May in the 

 Abuzabel district. Following it down the east coast, we find it recorded from Mozambique and also from 

 Madagascar. In the latter island Mr. E. Newton records it as met with by him from Andoviranto on the 

 east coast to Ambohitroni, and also at Soamandrikazay; and Dr. S. Roch procured it at Farafata. Mr. Ayres 

 speaks of its occurrence in the Transvaal ; and Mr. Barratt obtained it near Potchefstroom. In Cape Colony 

 Layard procured it ; and Andersson added it to the birds of Damara Land. In Western Africa it was obtained 

 by Hartlaub ; and I find it recorded by Von Heuglin from Senegal, Bissao, Gaboon, Gambia, Benguela, and 

 Angola, which widely-separated localities, as will be seen by a glance at the map, give it a vast range on the 

 west coast of the continent. 



Habits. — This very interesting species resembles in its mode of life and habits the Rails more than the 

 Snipes, and, indeed, may be considered to form a link between the two families. It is particularly fond of 

 rushy and reedy marshes, but is found in paddy-fields as well ; and it generally selects a somewhat secluded 

 locality, such as the corner of a large swamp or paddy-field, in which several individuals, but more often a pair, 

 will be found, while for miles round not another individual will be met with. As a rule, it is found not far from 

 water — that is, if there be any ponds, ditches, or wet places in the fields which it frequents. It is very often 

 flushed singly, but in reality associates, as a rule, in pairs, one bird of which is frequently passed over, as it 

 lies very close and will not rise until nearly trodden upon. It then flies straight away, with rather slow flappings 

 of its ample wings, and suddenly drops, like a Jack Snipe, into the grass. It is frequently missed by good 

 shots when, after banging away at quick-flying Snipe, they unexpectedly flush one of these birds and do not 

 allow for its much slower flight. It not uncommonly enters the water when winged, and swims well. 

 Mr. Fisher writes me, " When walking up wounded and unwounded birds I have seen these Snipe take to the 

 water and swim several yards across to ground further on, in their endeavours to hide themselves." 

 Mr. Young, of the Survey Department, likewise tells me that he once saw two young birds swimming across 

 a pond after their parents were flushed, with the hen bird flying round them in a great state of alarm. 



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