134 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional species of Birds 



then being the red patch on the wing. They build in the reeds 

 and long grass; their food consists entirely of grass seeds, and 

 I have heard they do considerable damage to the Boers' crops of 

 wheat and oats in the interior. 



138. CuRSORius CHALCOPTERUS (Temm.). Bronze-winged 

 Courser. 



Male. Eye dark brown; legs pale. The stomach of this 

 specimen was perfectly empty. Of the habits of this bird I 

 know nothing, this being the only one I have seen. It is ex- 

 cessively rare in this part of the country, though I believe plen- 

 tiful in the interior. 



139. Tringoides hypoleucus (Linn.). British Common 

 Sandpiper. 



[Sent to Mr. Stevens by Mr. Hilliard.— J. H. G.] 



140. Gallinago major (Gmelin.). British Great Snipe. 

 Male. Eye very dark ; legs very light slate-colour ; bill 



brown. I know but little of the habits of these birds ; but they 

 are migratory, appearing here in September and October, and 

 leaving again in January or February. They are generally 

 dispersed over the country, preferring the swamps on the flats 

 to the hilly streams. They are usually found singly, but some- 

 times, when plentiful, may be put up in flights. 



141. Platalea TENUiROSTRis, Tcmm. Slender-billed Spoon- 

 bill. 



Male and female. The eye of a light bluish grey ; legs dark 

 pink ; bill bluish pink ; skin round the eye red. The stomachs 

 of these birds were crammed with shrimps. Of their habits I 

 know but little ; they are gregarious, and are frequently to be 

 found with the White Ibis and other waders. They are extremely 

 shy ; I have not had an opportunity of seeing them feed. 

 They generally fly in lines, or form the letter V. 



142. PcECiLONETTA ERYTHRORHYNCHA (Gmcl.). Red-billed 

 Marbled Duck. 



143. Thalassornis LEUCONOTUS (Smith). Fasciated Duck. 



