GALLINAGO IMPERIALIS.
ailPEPJAL SNITE).
Gallinago imperialis Scl. et. Salv. P . Z. S. 1869, p. 419.
S u p rà s a tu ra tè ru fa , n ig ro v a rieg ata e t transfasciata, facie p aulo d ilutiore, remigibus p rima riis n ig ric an tib u s,
secundariis e x tu s dorso concoloribus ; su b tu s g u ttu r e to to ad medium p e ctu s n ig ro e t ru fo va rieg ato ; abdomine albo
n igroque reg u la rite r transfasciato, c au d â brevi, a te c tric ib u s su p e rio rib u s cop ertâ, n ig ric an te u n ic o lo re ; te ctric ib u s
su b a larib u s n ig ric antibus, fasciis paucis obscu ris albis ; ta rs is brevibus, ro b u stis, tib iis ferè omnino p lum is ob te ctis ;
long, to tâ l l ’O, alæ G'O, caudæ V5 , ta rs i 1-2, d ig iti medii cum u n g u e 1 7 , ro s tri a ric tu 3 3.
Hab. in No v a Gran ad â inte riore .
We have lately described this singular bird fi-om a specimen purcliased b y Salvin some
time ago o f a dealer in London along with a number o f other birds received dii-ect from Bogota.
It should be mentioned that the specimen was not prepared after the usual well-known fashion
o f “ Bogota” skins, having been roughly mounted. But the dealer stated that his correspondent
in New Granada had called his attention to the bird as being something rare, and that there
could be no doubt as to its origin.
Notwithstanding this statement, we w-ere at first sight inclined to think that the bird might
be Scolopca: saturata o f Java, which it somewhat resembles in general coloration, and that an
en-or had been made about the locality. This point was soon settled in the negative, hy
reference to the original type-specimen o f Horsfield. Scolopax saturata possesses the characteristic
white terminations o f the rectrices, and the cross patches on the back o f tho head, wliich
distinguish the veritable Woodcocks {Seohpax). There can be no question, however, that our
bird shews considerable rapprochement towards true Scolopax, fboiigb we tliink it best to keep
It w ithm the limits o f Oallinago, its nearest striictaral allies being ff. striek la tiii aatl G. jamesoni,
both o f which have short robust tarsi, and the tibioe feathered, as in the present species, n e a r /
down to the tarsal joint. The wings o f our single specimen o f this bird are not in very
perfect condition, hut, as far as we can tell, the third and fourth primaries would he rather
longer than the first and second, and longest. The secondaries, as in all Snipes, are very
long, and in the present bird quite reach to the points o f the primaries when the wing is closed.
The tail-feathers are likewise deficient, only three o f them remaining in süu. These shew no
traces o f transverse markings whatever, in which respect this bird is more like true Scolopax
than Gallinago. But there are likewise no traces o f the white terminations o f the tail-feathers,
which are so conspicuous iu the Woodcocks.
Our figure o f this bird is taken from the typical specimen in the oolleclion o f Salvin and
Godman, which at present remains unique.