Ornithology of the Egyptian Soudan. 397 



311. Pavoncella pugnax (Linn.). 



a. <$• Khartoum, Dec. 1902. 



b. ? . Duem, Nov. 16, 1902. 



The Ruff is abundant in winter. It is largely a grain- 

 eater, frequenting the dhurra-ficlds at harvest-time in flocks. 

 It is also attracted to the vicinity of garbage and carrion in 

 search of insect-food. Buffs are excellent eating, and afford 

 pretty shooting, being quite wild enough to give sport. 



In captivity they become very tame, and spend all their 

 time in ruffling up to each other and fighting. This is in 

 the winter and in their winter plumage. 



They remain until March, but I have never seen them 

 begin to acquire the ruff here. 



312. Limosa vEgocephala (Linn.). 



The Black-tailed Godwit is abundant in the winter, and 

 remains until late in the spring. 



313. Totanus CALiDitis (Linn.). 



The Bedshank is tolerably plentiful in the winter. 



314. Totanus canescens (Gm.). 

 a. ? . Khartoum, Dec. 5, 1902. 



The same remark applies to the Greenshank. 



315. Totanus stagnatilis Bechst. 



316. Totanus glareola (Linn.). 



317. Totanus ochropus (Linn.). 



The Marsh-, Wood-, and Green Sandpipers are all tolerably 

 common in the winter. 



318. Totanus hypoleucus (Linn.). 



The Common Sandpiper is met with Avherever there is 

 water. It is tame and lively in captivity, feeding freely on 

 chopped meat, fish, eggs, and breadcrumbs. 



319. Numenius arquata (Linn.). 



320. Numenius ph/Eopus (Linn.). 



Curlews and Whimbrels are both fairly common in the 

 winter and spring, the latter birds being the most plentiful. 

 SER. viii. — vol. v. 2 E 



