1840.] of the Peninsula of India. 207 



led Colonel Sykes and others to consider it as migratory. I have, how- 

 ever, seen it throughout the hot weather and monsoon in two succes- 

 sive years, and find the same fact stated by Mr. Elliot. 



Irides dark brown ; bill dusky reddish ; legs green. Length about 

 inches ; bill 2 ; tarsus 1-j-^ths. 



Sub Genus SCOLOPAX. 



335. — S. rusticola ? — S. minor f—S. saturata, Horsf. ? — Neilgherry 

 Woodcock. 



I find it impossible from the meagre descriptions of authors, to as- 

 certain whether this bird is identical with the European bird or not, 

 or whether, as some have supposed, it may be the American species, 

 from its sm Her size. It appears to correspond in plumage pretty close- 

 ly with the European bird, but from the examination of a good num- 

 ber of fresh specimens, it seems to be a considerably lighter bird. It 

 arrives on the hills about November ; a stray bird or two being some- 

 times killed in October, and leaves in March. 



Length 15 to 16 inches ; wing 8j ; bill at front 3 to 3 T 2 ^-ths ; tarsus 

 l-j-^ths ; tail 3| ; average weight about 9 or 9£ oz. ; varies from 7 to 

 11 oz. 



336. — S. nemoricola, Hodgson, Jouru. Asia. Soc. No. 66. — Solitary 

 Snipe of the Neilgherries. 



This bird differs considerably from the solitary snipe of Europe (S. 

 major, L.). It is a rare visitant to the Neilgherries during the cold sea- 

 son, and has not, as far as I am aware, been killed elsewhere in the 

 Peninsula. It frequents the marshy ground at the foot of the dense 

 woods of the hills. I obtained a specimen from J. Scott, Esq. of the M, 

 C. S. which is about 13 inches long, the bill being 2 T fi -ths. 



337.— .& gallinago, L. — Blmruk or Buruk, IL— Common Snipe. 



The Snipe is found in great numbers all over the Peninsula during the 

 cold season, frequenting grass by the sides of tanks, and streams, marsh- 

 es, but more especially the inundated paddy-fields. 



338.— S. gallinula, h.—Jack Snipe. 



The Little Jack Snipe is tolerably abundant along with the last in some 

 parts of the country, especially towards the more northern part of 

 the Peninsula. 



