Oedee LIMICOL^.] 
[Fam. SCOLOPACID^. 
GALLINAGO PTISILLA. 
(CHATHAM-ISLAND SNIPE.) 
Gallinago pusilla, Buller, Ibis, 1869, p. 41. 
GalUnago aucMandica, Buller, Birds of New Zealand, 1st ed. p. 196 (1873). 
G. aucklandicce similis, sed minor. 
Adult. Upper surface dark rufous brown ; variegated with irregular spots of fulvous and black, these markings 
being most conspicuous on the back and scapulars, the feathers on these parts being margined outwardly 
with pale fulvous, and marked with a large subterminal spot of black ; underparts fulvous ; on the sides of 
the head and breast numerous spots of rufous brown, of which colour there is also an irregular line from the 
base of the upper mandible to the anterior edge of the eyes ; sides of the body and flanks variegated with 
crescentic marks of rufous brown. Bill greyish brown ; feet pale brown. Total length 8 inches, extent of 
wings 13 ; wing, from flexure, 4 ; tail 1-5 ; bill, along the ridge 1-75, along the edge of lower mandible 1-5 ; 
tarsus '75 ; middle toe and claw 1’2, hind toe and claw •2'. 
Young. Darker on the upper surface, the fulvous margins being reduced to mere lines, with an inner border of 
black forming a distinct crescent ; on the scapulars and larger wing-coverts there are three such crescents 
in succession, but these markings are only observable on the plumage being disturbed ; there is less fulvous 
on the underparts, the sides of the body, abdomen, and under tail-coverts being marked with crescents of 
rufous brown, which are broadest and most distinct on the flanks. 
Note. “Judging from the measurements of specimens recently obtained in the Chatham Islands (c/. Finsch, 
J- f. O. 1874, p. 197) I am inclined to regard G. pusilla as a smaller species than G. aucklandica, which from 
its constantly lesser dimensions may be well kept distinct.^’ (Sharpe in Voy. Ereb. & Terr. 1875, p. 30.) 
In 1868 I received from Dr. (now Sir James) Hector a small Snipe obtained by Mr. Charles Traill 
during a visit to the Chatham Islands, the specimen being accompanied by tbe following memo- 
randum ; — “ Found on a small rocky islet off Chatham Island.” A second specimen, in no way 
differing from the first, and procured from the same locality, was deposited by that gentleman in the 
Colonial Museum. On comparing these birds with Mr. G. E. Gray’s description of GalUnago auck- 
landica, I considered that the species was a distinct one, and characterized it accordingly [1. c.) as 
GalUnago pusilla, in allusion to its small size. The next record of its occurrence was from the Gulf 
of Hauraki, near Auckland ; and Mr. Henry Travers subsequently brought further examples from 
the Chatham Islands. 
Having brought with me to England one of Mr. Traill’s original specimens, for illustration in 
tty former edition, I carefully compared it with a series of eight skins of GalUnago aucklandica in the 
ritish Museum brought from the Auckland Islands by the Antarctic expedition, and with another 
rom the same locality in the possession of the late Mr. Gould, and I came to the conclusion that, 
notwithstanding the great difference in the length of the bill, they were referable to one and the same 
species or, at any rate, that till further specimens had been obtained it would be unwise to separate 
them. I summarized the results of my examination thus : — 
In bis description of GalUnago aucklandica, Mr. Gray gives the following measurements : — Length 9 inches, 
42, bill 2 inches and 4 lines.” In the type of my G. pusilla the dimensions are appreciably smaller in 
every way j and in the specimen which I brought to England for comparison they are as follows : — Length 8 inches ; 
