COMMON SNIPE. 143 



46. Gallinago scolopacinus, Bonap. 



Blyth, ("at. 1610 — S. gallinago, Linn. — Sykes, Cat. 197 — 

 Jerdon, Cat. 337 (in part) — S. uniclavus, Hodgson — Gould, 

 Birds of Europe, pi. 321-2, — S. burka, Latham and Bonaparte — 

 Bharka Bharak, H. — (ChaJia, Chahar, H. in various parts*) — 

 Soorkhab, of some Shikaries, i. e. } the Sucker of water — Mukupuredi, 

 Tel., i. e. f the long-billed Turnix — More-ulan, Tarn. — Cliegga, Beng. 



The Common Snipe. 



Descr. — Crown black, divided longitudinally by a yellowish 

 white line ; a dusky brown eye-streak, and a yellowish superciliary 

 one; back and scapulars velvet black, crossed with chesnut 

 brown bars, and with longitudinal streaks of ochre-yellow ; wing- 

 coverts dusky brown, edged with reddish white ; quills blackish ; 

 chin and throat white ; cheeks, neck, and breast above mottled 

 black and ferruginous ; flanks barred white and dusky ; the lower 

 part of the breast and abdomen pure white ; tail black, with the 

 terminal third red-brown, barred black and tipped whitish ; lower 

 wing- coverts white, very faintly barred. 



Bill reddish brown, paler at the base ; irides deep brown ; legs 

 greyish green. Length 11 to 12 inches ; extent 17 to 18 ; wing 5 to 

 5|, about 1 or 1£ inches shorter than tail; tail 2J; bill at front 2 J 

 to 3 ; tarsus 1£ ; middle toe 1 J. Weight 3| to 5 oz. 



Both this and the last species of Snipe are very abundant in 

 India during the cold weather, and are not, in general, discriminat- 

 ed by sportsmen. Snipe arrive in the North of India in small 

 numbers early in August, but not in any quantity till the end 

 of September and October. A few are generally found in the 

 Calcutta market early in August, and in the Madras market by 

 the 25th of the same month ; the last birds do not leave before 

 the first week of May. In Upper Burmah, where ^ I noticed 

 the very early appearance of the Common Swallow, Snipe come in 

 small numbers towards the middle or latter end of July ; but I 

 very much doubt their breeding there, or in the marshes of Bengal, 

 as Adams states that they do. They frequent marshes, inundated 



* According to Buchanan, Chaha is applied to various small Waders, but not 

 correctly to the Snipe. 



