XXX EDITORS PREFACE. 



chasing the devastating loeusts, or performing graceful gyrations 

 in the air ; and whilst the temporary rain-pools often abound 

 with rare and handsome Waterfowl^ the shores are frequented 

 by the elegant Heron, the lively Sandpiper, the graceful Avocet, 

 and the gorgeous Flamingo. The Atlantic on the west, the 

 Orange River to the south, the Okavango River and the Lake 

 Ngami with the watersheds to the north and east, contri- 

 bute chiefly to these large and varied annual incursions and 

 migrations/^ 



In conclusion it may be desirable to refer to the synonymy of 

 the Plover which is included in the present volume under the 

 name of Eudromias asiaticus (No. 316), in order to add an ob- 

 servation respecting it, which, as the article upon that species 

 is already printed, cannot be inserted in its proper place. In 

 ' The Ibis ' for 1872, p. 144, Dr. Finsch gives it as his opinion 

 that this Plover should bear the specific name of '' damarensis," 

 proposed for it by Strickland in the ' Contributions to Orni- 

 thology' for 1853, p. 158, it being Dr. Finsch's view that the 

 older specific names of "asiaticus" and "caspius" were intended 

 by their author (Pallas) to apply to the nearly allied species 

 figured by Mr. Harting in 'The Ibis ' for 1870, pi. 6, under the 

 title of Eudromias veredus. The synonymy of both these 

 Plovers is fully discussed in Dr. Finsch's paper above cited, to 

 which, as well as to Mr. Harting's paper in "^The Ibis' for 1870, 

 p. 201, I beg to refer my readers. 



J. H. G. (1872). 



ERRATA. 



Page 13 line 3 /or " preceding " read " succeeding." 

 „ 2GG ,, 14 /or "uncommon" rer/fZ "not uncommon." 

 „ 3(>4 „ 7 oniii " shading lighter on the imier vanes." 



