Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 301 



rather than to A. podiceps. One of these was obtained in the 

 Cape Colony by the late Sir A. Smith; the exact locality of 

 the other is unknown. — J. H. G.] 



NuMENius phjEOpus (Linn.). Common Whimbrel. 



[Mr, Ayres has forwarded the specimen recorded in ' The 

 Ibis ' for 1877, p. 350 ; and I am therefore now able to con- 

 firm his identification of it. — J. H. G.] 



ToTANUs GLAREOLA (Linn.). "Wood- Sandpiper. 



Female, shot 21st January, at Potchefstroom, amongst a 

 flock of Cher a progne, three of which were killed at the same 

 shot. The stomach contained insects. 



303. Tringa minuta, Leisl. Little Stint. 



Male, shot at Potchefstroom, 10th April. 



Female, shot there, 23rd October. 



[The male bird, shot on the 10th of April, is just com- 

 mencing the assumption of its breeding-dress ; the female, 

 shot on the 23rd of October, has almost entirely lost it. — 

 J. H. G.] 



Gallinago jKquatorialis, Riipp. African Snipe. 



Female, shot 14th July. 



I shot this bird in mid air, in the act of making that 

 curious neighing noise with the rapid beat of the wings which, 

 till then, I always thought was produced by the cock bird 

 only. 



These Snipes are now commencing to breed. 



LiMNOCORAx NIGER (Gmcl.) . Black Crake. 



Female, shot at Potchefstroom, 12th June. Total length 

 8^ inches. Irides bright crimson; eyelids rose-red; bill 

 light greenish yellow ; tarsi and feet deep rose-red. 



The colours of the bill, tarsi, and feet are most beautifully 

 vivid. All these beautiful little water-birds — Eails, Water- 

 hens, &c. — seem now to be in tip-top plumage, uttering their 

 quaint notes and chasing each other about amongst tlie reeds 

 and sedges. 



