MR. FINN ON RHYNCHA‘A 
birds, the Limicole, which embraces the true snipes. 
The Indian sportsman knows that it neither behaves nor 
tastes like a snipe. The anatomist tells precisely the 
same tale. It is perhaps rather to the jacanas, those 
extraordinary long-toed birds, which walk upon the 
leaves of aquatic plants both in the Old World and 
the New, that the Rhynchea approaches most nearly 
in structure. It has too, according to Mr. F. Finn, a 
skulking and furtive gait like that of arail. The first, 
and so far the only, specimens brought to the Zoo were 
sent over by the same gentleman in 1902. The bird is 
unmistakably of the Limicoline order. It has the long 
bill of the majority of that tribe. Its colours are striking 
and yet are held to be “ protective”’ ; the back is olive 
green with yellow stripes. The behaviour of this bird 
has been carefully studied by Mr. Finn. During 
courtship they spread their wings and crouch down, 
something after the fashion of the ruff; they utter co- 
incidentally a sound “ like that produced by plunging 
a hot iron into water.’’ The same attitudes and actions 
are, however, produced by dismay, and are thought to 
be alarming to enemies. At any rate, Mr. Finn saw a 
golden plover which seemed to be frightened by this 
display. 
THE GLAUCOUS GULL 
In many respects this is one of the finest of the gull 
tribe. It is at least one of the largest. As a rule a 
specimen may be seen in the enclosure devoted to the 
gulls at the Zoo. The glaucous gull is not strictly a 
British species ; it is like many forms which inhabit 
the northern regions, circumpolar in habitat. Its 
occasional inclusion in the fauna of this country is due 
to infrequent visitations to these islands. The only 
equal of the glaucous gull in size is the great black- 
backed gull (Larus marinus), which is also a bird to be 
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