Plate XCVIIL 



GALLINAGO NOBILIS. 



(NOBLE SNIPE). 





Gallinago 



Gallinago granadensis 



Scl. P. Z, S. 1856, p. 31. 



Schlegel, Mus. d. P. B. Scolopaces, p. 9. 



Bp. Mus, Brit, et C. E. xliii. p. 579 (1856). 



Supra fusca, nigro et rufo (sicut in plerisque hujus generis speciebus) variegata : pileo summo nigro, vitta mediali 

 irregulari rufa : alis cineraceo-nigris, tectricum marginibus angustis albis : subtiis, gutture albicante, pectore toto 

 cinnainomescenti-brunneo, nigricante flammulato ; ventre albo, lateribus nigricante transfasciatis j crisso cinnamomeo- 

 rufo, nigro variegato : caudas rectricibus sedecem j harum octo mediis nigris, claro rufo late terminatis, boc colore 

 iterum sub margine anguste nigro vittato ; una utrinque proxima prsecedentibus assimili, sed colore nigro ocbracescente 

 maculato et terminatione rufa non aeque lata; tribus autein utrinque extimis ochracescentibus nigro irregulariter 

 transvittatis : subalaribus obscure cinereis albo transfasciatis : rostro longissimo, obscure corneo, apice nigricante ; 

 pedibus obscure corylinis : long, tota 12*0, alas 5'7, cauda3 2*4, rostri a rictu 37, tarsi 1*6, digiti medii cum ungue 1*9. 



Hob. in Nova Granada interiore. 



This Snipe was originally described by Sclater in 1856, from specimens received in Bogota 

 collections. Since that period we have met with many examples of it from the same locality, 

 but have received no information of its occurrence in any other part of America. We conclude, 

 therefore, that its range is confined to the high plateau of the Columbian Andes, in which the 

 New Granadian capital is situated. Several travellers have noticed the occurrence of a large 

 Snipe in this district, and we have little doubt that this must be the species referred to. Prince 

 Bonaparte seems at one time to have bestowed the MS. name granadensis upon this bird, but in 

 his " Tableau'' of the Order of Waders has merely used this term as a synonym of Sclater' s 

 already-published appellation. The chief distinguishing peculiarity of this Snipe is, as already 

 remarked by Schlegel, the great length of the beak in comparison with the size of the bird. 

 In his original description, Sclater has spoken of its bulk as being about equal to that of 

 Gallinago gigantea, but this is decidedly an error, the present bird being more nearly of the 

 size of our Double Snipe ( G. major). G. gigantea, of which Temminck's plate gives but a 

 Very imperfect idea, is very much larger, the body alone measuring fully eleven inches in length. 



The three outer pairs of rectrices of the present bird are considerably narrower than the 

 remaining pairs, but the outer pair are not nearly so attenuated as in G. paraguayce and 

 G. frenata. 



Our figure is taken from the same specimen (now in Salvin and Godman's collection) that 

 furnished the subject of Sclater's original description. 



The other eight American species of this genus known to us are the following : — • 



[195] 



