3908 THE SNIPE-BILLED GODWIT. 
Only the other day, old and practised hand as I am at this 
work, I suddenly sank in above my waist, when hunting for 
Tern’s eggs, in the Gangesa few miles below Allahabad. 
The young sportsman should never, therefore, forget that 
mud-flats, whether by the sea or inland, are places to be only 
ventured on with great care. 
OF THE NIDIFICATION of this species, we are as ignorant 
as of its haunts and habits. Schlegel says that it nests in Northern 
China and Mongolia, and quotes Swinhoe as the authority 
for this assertion. But Swinhoe, I believe, never stated any- 
thing of the kind, and, asa matter of fact, we know that a 
good deal further north,in North Latitude 50 degrees, the bird only 
halted during the spring and passed on to breed. Probably their 
summer head-quarters are in Northern Yakutsk, in the lower 
valleys of the Lena and other rivers, emptying themselves into 
the Arctic Ocean between the 120th and 170th degrees East 
Longitude. 
THERE SEEMS to be little difference in the size of the sexes. 
The following are the exact dimensions recorded in the flesh 
of six birds, two males and three females, and one, sex unrecorded. 
The first three sets of dimensions, recorded by myself, the next 
two by Mr. Oates, the last by Blyth :— 
Female. Male. Female. Male. Female. ? 
Length aye TO 13°3 123083 135 13‘4 13'0 
Expanse sole Sp eS 230 23°5 23'0 21'5 210 
Wing : 20" 16255 6'3 afaik 7'0 6°8 6°5 
Tail, from vent . bie EO 24 25 2°9 2°5 2°5 
Tarsus ig FL 2'0 22 2°05 205 PL°75 
Mid-toe and claw Seer CESS 158 1°48 a5 1°52 ics 
Hind-toe and claw i OW5S 06 06 — —= 0'56 
Bill, at front, from margin of 
feathers Bae ia 12sOo 2.15 ZZ — — 2°87 
Bill, from gape ... seat 2 2989 31 3°07 2'9 B25 —_— 
Height of both mandibles— 
at base, at margin of 
feathers : eee eROIAS 0°45 0°47 — = pa 
Bare portion of tibia saan) weTi(G) F2 1°32 — — raced 
Weight 50 we §=3.9 02S. 4°0 02S. 410ZS. :=- — — 
In my specimens the bill was deep brown, pinkish fleshy 
towards base of lower mandible ; the legs and feet were pure 
dull lead colour, a little dusky at the joints, and in one specimen 
on the toes ; the claws were deep brown ; the irides were also 
deep brown. 
In Mr. Oates’ birds “the bill was black, turning to plum- 
beous at the gape; iris dark brown; claws black; legs and 
toes dark plumbeous.” 
Blyth says: “Bill dusky, dull carneous towards the base of 
the lower mandible; legs and toes lead coloured.” 
