130 THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



SNIPK. 



The Black-quiiled Snipe {Gallinago nigripennis). 



[" This fine snipe may be easily distinguished from the common 

 snipe of Europe by the larger size, and by the blackness of the dorsal 

 plumage, as well as by the greater number of tail feathers, which in 

 the last named bird are only fourteen in number T — Layard and 

 Sharpens "Birds of South Africa."] 



This is the common Snipe of the country, and is met with more 

 plentifully in the Cape Colony and the Transvaal than elsewhere, 

 being only a very rare visitor to Bechuanaland or Damaraland. It 

 frequents in wisps the muddy vleys, but is seldom seen along the 

 running streams. It is a very easy bird to shoot, as, on being 

 flushed, it flies straight away, without any twists or turns, its pro- 

 gress at the same time being very slow. In the breeding season 

 it gives vent to the same drumming noise as the European snipe. 



The Great Snipe {(Gallinago major). . Fig 47, Frontispiece. 



In appearance this bird resembles the last-mentioned in every way, 

 from which, however, it may be distinguished by the pale hue of the 

 cheeks. 



The African Painted Snipe {Rhynchcea capensis). 



\_Size a little larger than the common European snipe. As a 

 rule it may be taken that the males of all birds are more brilliantly 

 marked than the females, but the order of nature is very much 

 reversed in the case of this species, the beautiful metallic lustre 

 permeating the plumage of the latter, and the refulgent green of the 

 wings forming a contrast with the tamer, though scarcely less hand- 

 some, colouring of the former. From its appearance the Painted 

 Snipe can so readily be distinguished from its congeners, that a 

 more minute description would be superfluous. \ 



Generally met with in pairs, frequenting muddy vleys and occa- 

 sionally the margins of running streams, these birds are distributed 

 all over South Africa, nowhere, however, by any means plentifully, 

 though more common in Damaraland, Ovamboland, and the Western 



