348 Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithologij of Transvaal. 



rich dark brown downy jjlumage spotted with Avhite. He 

 stood fearlessly on my hand till I carefully put him back, 

 and on moving some distance from the sjjot, I had the satis- 

 faction of seeing the old bird quietly skim along and settle 

 down by the youngster. 



Gallinago major (Gmel.). Solitary Snipe. 



Male, 8th March, 1883. 



Male, 26th November, 1883. 



Male, 5th December, 1883. 



Numbers of these Snipes arrived in November 1883, but 

 they were not so large and heavy as those obtained in Mai'ch 

 and April, the usual time for the appearance of this species ; 

 an occasional specimen may, however, be met with here at 

 any time of the year. 



Machetes pugnax (Linn.). Ruff. 



Female, Potchefstroom, 25th September, 1883. 



This species occurs in gradually increasing numbers, 

 appearing pretty regularly in September and remaining 

 throughout our summer months; during the past summer 

 (1884-85) it has been very plentiful, considerable flocks 

 feeding on the cultivated lands, wheat, stubbles, &c. 



Tringa minuta, Leisl. Little Stint. 

 Potchefstroom, December 1883. 



A few of these tiny Sandpipers occur in this neighbourhood. 

 [The specimen sent retains a few feathers of the nesting- 

 plumage, but otherwise it is in winter garb. — J. H. G.] 



ToTANUS glareola (Liuu.). Wood-Sandpiper. 



Female, Potchefstroom, 28th August, 1883. 



Female, Potchefstroom, 8th December, 1883. 



I fancy that this species is yearly becoming more common. 



[Of the two specimens sent, that killed in August is in 

 the breeding-dress, which the December bird has in great 

 measure, though not entirely, lost. — J. H. G.] 



Tringoides hypoleucus (Linn.). Common Sandpiper. 

 Female, Potchefstroom, 15th August, 1883. 

 This is a scarce species here, but a solitary bird is occa- 

 sionally seen. 



