ROSTRATULA.
Habits Rail-like ; bill decurved at tip ; wing much rounded; eye and ear normal in position. 9 larger and more richly coloured than Rostratula benghalensis benghalensis L. PAINTED SNIPE.
9 Throat and neck chestnut, white patch round and behind eye ; crown stripe reddish buff ; upper parts bronzy green with some cinnamon stripes ; quills grey inner web and cinnamon spots outer web ; chest black, abdomen white. Bill blackish, olive green
at base below. Legs and feet olive brown. neck and throat dull white ; quills grey on inner, bronzy olive green on outer web, barred and spotted ochreous ; patch round and behind eye ochreous. Wing d 127-137, Y 131-142. Tarsus 41-44. Bill 41-46 (H.). Young are like adult Resident—Nile Valley to Fayoum and Delta. Widely dis tributed in Africa and Asia.