666 JOURNAL, BOMBAy NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV III. 
247 Woodcock. Scolopax rusticola. 
Scohpai rusticola,(V..). (Syst. Xat. Ed., x, p. 146, 1758 — Sweden). 
The country beiny unsuited to this bird’s requirements, it is only a rare or per- 
haps occasional winter visitor. In different years there are six records of it at 
Basra from November to February ; Aldworth obtained one at Tekrit in high 
crops on November 11th, 1918 ; and Thornhill records one at Kut on October 
6th, 1916. In January and February 1918 they were said to have been “ rather 
plentiful ” in suitable places on the Diala river in the foothills district. It was 
met Muth also at Ahwaz. 
248. Common Snipe. Gallinago gallinago. “ Jehalul ” or 
“Naja el Maya. ” 
Gallinago gallinago gallinago (L.). (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 147, 17.58 — 
Sweden). 
Common winter visitor, abundant in suitable marshes. The first may be seen 
as early as August 3rd, quite a few by the middle of the month, but the bulk do 
not arrive till later. Plenty are still present in mid-Apiil, most have gone by 
early Jlay and sti’agglers are noted at the end of that month. Ther-e is no evi- 
dence that any remain to breed. Pitman found it absent from the marshes in the 
Museyib district in .June and July. The Arabic name “ Naja-el-Maya ” means 
“ water-goat ”, evidently in reference to the drumming sound which, though 
constantly heard in the breeding season, may also sometimes be heard in the 
winter. 
In favourable localities a couple of guns may easily obtain 40 to 50 coujile in 
a day. 
Three skins examined; 9 > Amsra, 7-4-18 (P. A. B.) ; Samarra, 6-3-18 
(C. R. P). 9 , Sheik Saad, 26-1-18 (Robinson). 
Zarudny gives raddei also as a winter visitor ; I am unable to recognize this 
race. 
249. Great Snipe. Gallinago media. 
Gallinago media (Lath.l. (Gen. Synop. Supp., i, 1787, p. 292 — England). 
Our records tend to show that this species is a passage migrant, though Zarudny 
records it in winter also. Thornhill records it at Haibi in April where a small 
patch of wheat and flooded grass seemed full of them. Gumming met with it at 
Fao in April and Buxton got one at Amara on April 14th ; it is also recorded 
from Shush in spring ; Logan Home met with single birds near Basra on August 
3rd and 29th, and Connor obtained one there on September 16th. 
250. Jack Snipe. Limnocryptes gallinula. 
Limnocrijples gallinula (L ). (Syst. Nat. Ed., xii, p. 244, 1766 — France), 
Generally distributed in winter in suitable localities throughout our area and 
common ; time of arrival was not noted, it was still common at the end of the 
first week in April. 
251. Broad-billed Sandpiper. Limicola falcinellus. 
Limicola falcinellus (Pont.) (Danske Atlas, 1, 1763, p. 623 — Denmark). 
Gumming obtained .several at Fao in August and September where it must be 
common. We have no further records. 
252. Terek Sandpiper. Terekia cinerea. 
Terekia cinena (Guld.) (Nov. Comm. Petrop., xix, 1775, p. 47.3 — Terek 
River, S. E. Russia). 
Probably common at Fao on the tidal mud flats where Gumming obtained 
several at the end of August and early in September. Essentially a maritime 
wader in winter. 
