SNIPE AND THEIR DISTINCTIONS 301 



(eight and six on each side respectively) so attenu- 

 ated as to consist of Httle more than pin-like shafts 

 (Fig. 2). In South Africa, Cape Colony, and 

 Natal the English snipe does not occur, its place 

 being supplied by a larger and darker species 

 (Gallinago nigripennis) ; while in Madagascar and 

 Mauritius is found a remarkably long-billed and 



TAIL FEATHERS OF THE PINTAIL SNIPE. 



long-toed Snipe {Gallinago macrodactyla), in which 

 the bill measures as much as 3J in. and the toes are 

 unusually long. 



The Common Snipe of North America {Gallinago 

 wilsonii) is so like our English bird as to be scarcely 

 distinguishable from it, except, it is said, by the 

 possession of sixteen instead of fourteen tail 

 feathers, though it is doubtful whether this alleged 

 peculiarity is constant, or independent of moult. 



