GALLINAGO. 



181 



188. Gallinago caelestis. The Fantail or Common Snipe. 



Cfefesijs= pertaining to or coming from heaven, cesium. The Snipe was called by the older 

 authors Capella codesiis, from its imitating the voice of a goat {capella) in its curious "drumming" 

 sound during the breeding season, as he swoops down with tail outspread. 



Chaha, N. W.P.; Bharka, Nepal; Chegga, Lower Bengal; Cheryga, Assam; Chek 

 lonbli, Manipur; Tibud, Ratnagiri; Oolan, S. India; Kadakecho, Orissa ; Ketbatta, 

 Ceylon; Pashaiek, Afghanistan; Mahalamche, Yarkand. 



188. Gallinago ccelestis. 



<? 9" to 11^" ; 3| to 5 oz. ? 9" to 12 J" ; 3 to 5^ oz. Legs green-drab. Bill 

 ■2f", red-brown. Back velvet-black, crossed chestnut with streaks of yellow. 

 Lower wing-coverts faintly barred. Tail of fourteen feathers of same width. 

 Three outer tail-feathers white, tinged rufous, with dusky spots and bars. Outer 

 ■web of first primary white. AxUIaries often pure white. Eminently gregarious. 

 Oalls " chiswick " on rising as he zigzags up, preparatory to getting straight away. 

 Known formerly as the " Jill " Snipe. Breeds in Europe, C. and N. Asia, and 

 winters in S. Europe, N. Africa, and S. Asia. Found in Calcutta markets in 

 August. Four eggs (1-6 x 1-1), greenish, double-spotted red-brown. (J. 871. 

 B. 1484. H. & M. iii. 359.) 



Also with tail of sixteen feathers : — 



6. major, llj". With three outer tail-feathers white, without spots or bars. Wing- 

 «overt3 with white tips. Bemiges twenty-five. The Great Snipe. From Europe and N. Asia, 

 wintering in Mediterranean countries and Africa. 



G. nigripennis. 11". Similar to G. major, but three out^ tail-feathers have obsolete spots. 

 ■Confined to Africa. 



Also with tail of sixteen feathers and axillaries regularly barred : — 



G. delicata, lOf". Wilson's Snipe. Similar to G. ccelestis, but with outer tail-feather less 

 than J" in breadth and outer secondaries slightly extended beyond primaries. From N. 

 America, and wintering in Bermudas, W. Indies, and S. America. 



G. frenata. 10". Resembling G. delicata, but outer tail-feather is less than J" in breadth, 

 Ani the outer secondaries are strongly extended beyond primaries. Confined to S. America. 



