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Genus GALLINAGO. 



Scolopax apud Brisson, Orn. v. p. 298 (1760). 



Gallinago, Leach, Syst. Cat. M. & B. Brit. Mus. p. 30 (1816). 



Telmatias apud Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 980. 



Pelorychus apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 119 (1829). 



Enalius apud Kaup, op. cit. p. 121 (1829). 



Lymnocryptes apud Kaup, op. cit. p. 118 (1829). 



Philolimnos apud C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 623 (1831). 



Ascalopax apud Keyserling & Blasius, Wirbelth. Eur. p. 77 (1840). 



The species belonging to this genus are very widely distributed, being found in the Palsearctic, 

 Ethiopian, Oriental, Australian, Nearctic, and Neotropical Regions, three species being found in 

 the Western Palsearctic Region. 



These birds frequent open marshy localities, and, as a rule, are rather shy and wary than 

 otherwise. During the daytime they remain concealed amongst the grass or herbage, though 

 they may occasionally be seen flying about in the daytime, more especially during the pairing- 

 season. As soon as the shades of evening begin to set in they become restless, and commence 

 moving about in search of food. They walk with ease, and even run swiftly, but usually squat 

 down and hide should danger threaten, unless they take flight. Their flight is very swift and 

 direct ; and they will sometimes fly long distances. They feed on worms and insects of various 

 kinds, and obtain their food, to a large extent, by probing in the mud and soft soil with their long, 

 soft, pointed bills. They place their four eggs in a depression in the ground or moss, scantily lined 

 with grass-bents. The eggs are pyriform in shape, greenish buff in colour, spotted and blotched 

 with dull purplish grey and dark umber-brown. 



Gallinago major, the type of the genus, has the bill very long, straight, slender, flexible, 

 both mandibles grooved, with the terminal portion slightly enlarged, with numerous nervous 

 filaments under the cuticle, but, when dry, pitted with small depressions, tip hard, narrow, but 

 obtuse ; the lower mandible shorter than, and fitting into a notch in, the upper mandible ; 

 nostrils small, lateral, linear, basal ; wings long, pointed, the first quill longest, inner secondaries 

 very long ; tail short, slightly rounded ; legs moderately long, rather slender ; tibia bare for 

 a short distance only ; tarsus scutellate ; hind toe small, slender, elevated, anterior toes long, 

 slender, scutellate above, free at the base ; claws small, slender, acute, slightly curved. 



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