THE PINTAIL SNIPE. 
383 
but of course a great deal depends on whether the soil is suitable for 
worms, the chief food of this Snipe. Before attempting to struggle through 
a muddy paddy-field in Burmah_, it is advisable to examine the ground for 
traces of the small holes the Snipe makes in searching for worms_, and if 
none are visible, it is generally a sign that there are few or no Snipe in the 
vicinity. 
In Europe the Common Snipe deposits four eggs in a depression in the 
ground in April, amongst rushes, grass or heather. In Caslimeer it lays in 
May. The eggs are bufip varying to greenish, blotched with various shades 
of brown. 
728. GALLINAGO STENUEA. 
THE PINTAIL SNIPE. 
Scolopax stenura*, KuM, Bo7iap. Osserv. sulla sec. ediz. Regn. Anim, Cuv. Monog. 
Soolopax, p. 121. Scolopax horsfieldii, J. E. Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 2. Galli- 
nago stenura, Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 674 ; G. F. L. Marshall, S. F. i. p. 423 ; 
Cripps, S. F. i. p. 496; Hutne, S. F. ii. p. 294 ; Barker, S. F. ii. p. 335 ; Salvad. 
Ucc. Born. p. 334 ; Bl. B. Btirm. p. 156 ; Armstrong, S. F. iv. p. 340 ; Butler, 
S. F. Y. p. 212 ; David et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 478 ; Hume ^ Dav. 8. F. vi. p. 459 ; 
Crijjps, S. F. vii. p. 301 ; Hume, 8. F. viii. p. 112 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, p. 816 ; 
Scully, 8. F. viii. p. 354 ; Bingham, 8. F. viii. p. 196, ix. p. 196 ; Oates, 8. F. x. 
p. 238. Gallinago horsfieldii, Hume, 8. F. iii. p. 182. 
Description. — Male and female. Similar in coloration and size to 
G. coelestis, differing in the characters pointed out above. 
The Pintail Snipe is universally distributed over Burmah and excessively 
common during the cold season. 
In the winter months it is found throughout India and Ceylon, the 
Indo-Burmese countries, China, Cochin China, Siam, the Malay peninsula 
and many of the islands. In summer it retires to Central Asia and 
Southern and Eastern Siberia, where it breeds. 
The Pintail Snipe arrives in Burmah about the middle of August, and 
by the first of September the whole Province is overrun by them. It is 
excessively abundant, and I doubt if any other country in the world can 
afford such excellent Snipe-shooting as Burmah in the months of September 
and October. 
In November large numbers of this Snipe depart, and by January com- 
* There has been considerable discussion regarding tlie derivation of this word, all based 
on the supposition that Bonaparte used the word " sthenurar A reference to the original 
description would have rendered this discussion unnecessary, for Bonaparte spells the 
word stenura " in the work quoted. 
