Oebek LIMICOLiE.] 
[Fam. SCOLOPACIDJE. 
GALLINAGO AUCKLANDICA. 
(AUCKLAND-ISLAND SNIPE.) 
Gallinago aucMandica, Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terr., Birds, p. 13, pi. 13 (1844). 
Scolopax holmesi, Peale, U. S. Expl. Exp. viii. p. 229 (1848). 
Ccenocorgpha aucMandica, Gray, Cat. Gen. of B. p. 119 (1855). 
Ad. suprk ochraceo-fulvescens : pileo rufescenti-brunneo, plurais medialiter nigris: lineA vcrticali et supercilio 
ktissimo stramineis : collo postico magis fulvescente, plumis medialiter nigris : dorso rufescenti-brunneo, 
plumw nigro irregulariter maculatis aut vermiculatis, scapularibus et dorsi plumis quibusdam stramineo 
margiiiatis : tectricibus alarum dorso concoloribus : remigibus pallide brunneis, secuudariis dorso conco- 
lonbus et eodum modo nigro maculatis et extus late stramineo limbatis : caud^ brunneS., rectricibus centrali- 
bus rufescente variis, exterioribus pallide cinerascentibus medialiter saturatioribus ; facie laterali straminea, 
brunneo minute triquetre maculata, linea per ocnlum duct4 paullb saturatiore : subtus fulvescens, gul;\ et 
abdomine immaculatis : gutture imo, pectore superiore et laterali cum crisso rufescenti-brnnneis, plumis 
saturatiore brunneo aut triquetre medialiter notatis, aut transversira vermiculatis : subalaribus cinerascenti- 
bruimeis ; rostro grisescenti-corneo : pedibus pallide brunneis : iride nigr^. 
Adult. Crown of the head rufous brown, varied with dark brown, and with a narrow fulvous line down the 
middle , forehead and cheeks fulvous white, the former with an upward median streak of brown ; from the 
base of the upper mandible to the anterior edge of the eyes a dull streak of the same ; upper surface dark 
rufous brown, variegated with irregular spots of fulvous and black, especially on the back and scapulars, each 
feather being margined outwardly with pale fulvous, and marked with a large subterminal spot of black ; 
underparts of the body pale fulvous, whitish on the abdomen, the breast obscurely spotted, the sides and flanks 
varied with rufous brown. Irides black ; bill greyish brown ; tarsi and toes pale brown. Length 9 inches • 
extent of wings 14} wing, from flexure, 4-5 ; tail 2 ; bill, along the ridge 2, along the edge of lower man- 
dible 2‘3 } tarsus 1 ; middle toe and claw 1'5. 
Young. A very young bird in Canon Tristram's collection, with the down still adhering to the feathers, has 
similar plumage to the adult, but with broader margins to the feathers of the upper surface, and a larger 
extent of fulvous white on the abdomen. 
Note. In his ^Catalogue of New-Zealand Birds' (p. 77), Prof. Hutton treats Gallinago pusilla as distinct from 
this species, and says of it : — “ In its colours this bird very much resembles the figure of G. stricklandi, 
Gray, in the Voyage of the Erebus and Terror,' pi. 33, of which there is no description nor locality given. 
It, however, appears to be smaller, and to have a much shorter bill than stricklandi.” 
This fine Snipe was brought from the Auckland Islands by the Antarctic Expedition in 1844, and 
the type specimen is in the British Museum. 
If I am right in again separating the New-Zealand form, under the name of Gallinago pusilla 
it would seem that the Auckland-Island species has never been met with either on our coasts or at the 
Chatham Islands. It has, however, been recorded from the Snares, a group of rocky islets to the 
south of Stewart’s Island. 
Sir James Hector quite recently writes to me:— “ From Antipodes Island, Captain Fairchild has 
brought a very interesting form of Snipe, which is larger, darker in plumage, and with a more curved 
bill than the Auckland-Island species.” 
