358 THE PINTAIL SNIPE. 
just sprouting, and in every stage between that and full develop- 
ment. But even where they are entirely wanting, the presence 
of only ten ordinary tail feathers, the tail being perfect and 
symmetrical, is sufficient to distinguish this species from the 
Common Snipe. 
In the Common Snipe the outer web of the first primary is 
white or nearly so; in the present species it is unicolorous with 
the inner web, 2.2, a rather pale brown. Again, in the Common 
Snipe, all the secondaries are pretty broadly and very con- 
spicuously tipped with pure white, while in the Pintail they are at 
most only margined with albescent or brownish white. 
There are many other minor and more or less constant differ- 
ences, but the above are amply sufficient to enable any one to 
distinguish the two species at a glanec. 
Melanoid and albinoid varieties of this species are occasion- 
ally met with. Of the latter I have a fine example now 
before me, procured by my friend Mr. J. C. Parker near Calcutta. 
The lower surface does not differ much from the normal 
type, except that the markings on the breast and flanks are 
pale brownish grey, but the entire upper surface is a mixture 
of pale cream colour and pale brownish grey. I have seen 
at least half a dozen similar creamy-coloured birds in the 
course of the last thirty years. I also once shot one that was snow- 
white everywhere, with only faint traces of grey markings. 
Before the mutiny, I had a specimen procured near Dacca, 
which was everywhere blackish dusky, darker than either of 
the only two Sabine’s snipe I ever saw, but very similar to 
these ; but alike in this and in all the albinoid specimens I have 
seen, the wing-lining and axillaries differed but little from the 
normal type, and had not participated, at any rate to the same 
extent, in the general change or loss of colour. JI do not know 
whether this is always so, but it has been the case in all the 
instances that have come under my personal observation. 
