142 GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Bill reddish brown ; hides dark ; feet greenish yellow. Length 

 12^ inches ; extent 20 ; wing 6 J ; tail 3 J ; bill at front 2| ; tarsus 

 1J; middle-toe 1J. Weight 6J oz. 



The Himalayan Solitary Snipe has hitherto only been found in 

 the Himalayas, and no details of its peculiar haunts are recorded. 

 It inhabits thin forests, near swampy ground, and in winter has 

 been killed at from 3,000 to 6,000 feet of elevation. I am not aware 

 if it occurs elsewhere, but it will most probably be found in 

 summer in Thibet and Central Asia ; indeed, Bonaparte states 

 that there is a species from Japan which scarcely differs, having 

 20 to 24 rectrices, the outer ones narrow ; it is very probably 

 Swinhoe's Gallin. megala, from China. 



45. Gallinago stenura, Temminck. 



Scolopax, apud Temminck. — Blyth, Cat. 1609 — S. gallinago 

 apud Jerdon, Cat. 337 (in part) — S. heterura, and S. biclavus, 

 Hodgson— S. Horsfleldii, Gray— Hardwicke, 111. Ind. Zool. 2, 

 pi. 54,— 



The Pin-tailed Snipe. 



J)escr. — Very similar to the Common Snipe in colour ; but the 

 under-wing-coverts and axillaries richly barred with dusky and 

 white. 



Of slightly smaller size than the Common Snipe ; length 9 to 10 

 inches ; wing 5£ ; bill barely {in general) 2J inches ; tail 2 to 2{ ; 

 tarsus and feet slightly shorter. 



The Pin-tailed Snipe resembles the Common Snipe so closely that 

 it is very seldom discriminated by sportsmen, and often passed 

 over by the Naturalist. It can, however, be recognised at once by 

 the richly barred lower wing-coverts, by its shorter beak, and most 

 conspicuously by its remarkable tail, the lateral feathers of which 

 are very narrow, rigid, and pointed. 



I regret that I have no information of its habits, or of its times of 

 appearance and departure, as distinguished from the Common Snipe. 



3rd. With from 14 to 16 tail-feathers, of nearly uniform 

 width ; restricted Gallinago, Bonap. 



