U6 GAME BIRDS OF INDIA. 



alternating with the ocelli, and gradually changing to buff on 

 the tertials ; tail olivaceous grey, with four or five rows of buff 

 ocelli on both webs, and tipped with buff; chin whitish ; neck, 

 throat, and breast olivaceous brown, with whitish spots or bars ; 

 the lower parts from the breast, white, passing on the sides of the 

 breast towards the shoulder, and becoming continuous with the 

 pale scapulary stripe. 



The female is darker and plainer coloured above ; the wing- 

 coverts and tertials dark olive with narrow black cross lines, the 

 outermost tertiaries white, forming a conspicuous white stripe; lores, 

 sides of the face, and whole neck, deep ferruginous chesnut, 

 gradually changing on the breast into dark olive, almost black 

 beneath, this is bordered on the sides (as in the male) by a 

 pure white line passing up to the scapular region ; lower part 

 white, a dark band on the flanks bordering the white ascending 

 line posteriorly. 



Bill reddish brown ; irides deep brown ; legs greenish. Length 

 of the female 9 J inches ; wing 5| ; tail nearly 2 ; bill at front 1 § ; 

 tarsus If; mid-toe If. The male is a little smaller; length 9 ; 

 wing 5£. 



The African species is generally considered distinct, and is stated 

 to differ in its narrower quills and some slight variations in the color- 

 ing of the wings, tail, &c. ; I can see no such difference however in 

 a Cape specimen in the Museum of the Asiatic Society, and I note 

 that Gurney in a late paper in the 'Ibis,' pronounces them to be 

 identical. R. australis, Gould, from Australia, is also very closely 

 allied, but the female (only) possesses a peculiar conformation of 

 the trachea, which is wanting in the Indian bird, this organ passing 

 down between the skin and the muscles for the whole length of 

 the body, and making four distinct convolutions before entering 

 the lungs. It has shorter toes also than the Indian species. A 

 species from South America, R. semicollaiis, V. is very distinct. 



The Painted Snipe is a permanent resident in some parts 

 of India, breeding in June and July in thick marshy ground, and 

 laying four eggs which are greenish with large brown blotches and 

 very large for the size of the bird. It wanders about a good deal 

 according to the season, and many will be found in paddy fields, in 



