Ornithology of Transvaal. 351 



siderable remains of nuptial dress, both on the mantle and 

 on the under surface. Mr. Ayres sends, as well, a female in 

 winter dress, shot 7th January. — J. H. G.] 



ToTANUS GLAREOLA (Liuu.). Wood-Sandpiper. 



Found on the Snipe-ground. 



[Mr. Ayres forwards two females — one shot 25th February, 

 which has partly assumed the nuptial dress, the other, killed 

 25th March, which has fully attained it. — J. H. G.] 



215. Rhynch^a capensis (Linn.) . African Painted Snipe. 

 Of sixty Snipe shot by some friends of mine, only two were 



of this species, two Gallinago major, and the remainder G. 

 (squatorialis . 



Gallinago major (Gmel.). Solitary Snipe. 

 Of the three specimens sent, a male and female were shot 

 on 26th March, and a female on 20th April. 



Rallus c^rulescens, Gmel. Caffre Rail. 



Male, shot 4th June. Irides blood-red ; bill the same, but 

 dusky along the ridge ; tarsi and feet dull brownish red, tinged 

 with dusky. 



Female, shot 17th May. Irides reddish hazel ; bill scarlet, 

 but dusky on the ridge; tarsi dull brick-red, tinged with 

 dusky. 



This is the commonest Rail we have, and a most noisy 

 little fellow, making wonderfully loud and startling cries for 

 his size ; the stomach of one sent contained legs of a crab. 



216. Crex pratensis (Bechst.). Corn- Crake. 



This species is very scarce here ; the specimen sent was shot 

 on 10th March. 



PoRZANA PYGMiEA, Naum. Baillou's Crake. 



Male, shot 20th April, in immature plumage on the throat 

 and breast. Irides tawny ; bill greenish, but dusky on the 

 ridge, j tarsi and feet pale dusky greenish. 



Female, shot 22nd January, in adult dress. Irides reddish 

 orange; bill grass-green, but dusky on the ridge; tarsi and 

 feet pale greenish. 



