ARGENTINE PAINTED SNIPE 197 



ARGENTINE PAINTED SNIPE 



Rhynchxa semicottaris 



Above dark brown; head black, with a central and two lateral 

 longitudinal bands of buffy white ; wings ashy blackish, spotted with 

 buffy white and barred with black ; coverts with large oval spots of 

 clear white; beneath, throat and breast dark brownish, with a con- 

 spicuous white neck-collar on each side ; belly white, flanks tinged 

 with buffy; bill greenish, reddish at tip; feet flesh-colour; length 

 8, wing 4.1 inches. Female similar, but slightly larger and more 

 brightly coloured. 



In the Argentine provinces this bird is called Dormildn 

 (Sleepy-head)^ in allusion to its dull habits^ which 

 are like those of a nocturnal species. It passes the 

 daylight hours concealed in dense reed-beds, rising 

 only when almost trodden on; the flight is feeble 

 and erratic, the rapid wing-flutterings alternating 

 with intervals of gliding, and after going a short 

 distance the bird drops again like a Rail into the 

 rushes. From its behaviour on the ground, also in 

 flying, when it appears dazed v/ith the light, I have 

 no doubt that it is altogether nocturnal or crepuscular 

 in its habits. It is solitary and resident, and may be 

 met with in small numbers in every marsh or stream 

 in the Plata district, where its favourite reed-beds 

 afford it cover. It appears to have no cry or note 

 of any kind, for even when frightened from its nest 

 and when the eggs are on the point of hatching it 

 utters no sound. The eggs never exceed two in 

 number, and are placed on the wet ground, often 

 without any lining, among the close grass and herbage 



