SOUTH AFRICAN BIRDS AND THEIR DIET 



The Whimbrel. 



{Numenius phacopus.) 



Diet. — The habits and diet of this bird are similar to those 

 of the curlew. It is often seen in association with the curlew. 



Red Shanks, Green Shanks, and Sandpipers. 



(Genus — Totanus.) 



Diet. — These birds, of which there are a good many species, 

 haunt the mud flats, sandy seashores, margins of rivers, ponds, 

 lakes, and swamps, and their diet consists of the many kinds of 

 insects, worms, Crustacea, and mollusca which frequent those 

 localities. All the birds of this genus are of economic value. 



The Ruff. 



[Pavoncella pugnax.) 



Diet. — The ruff finds its food by wading in the shallows of 

 ponds, rivers, lagoons, and on the seashore. Its diet is the same 

 as that of the sandpipers. 



The Knots and Stints. 



(Genera — Tringa and Call dr is.) 



Diet. — The birds of these genera feed on aquatic insects, 

 mollusca, and Crustacea which they find in the shallows or at 

 the margins of rivers, ponds, lagoons, and on the seashore. 



The Snipe. 



(Genus — Gallinago.) 



Diet. — Worms and aquatic insects which they obtain by 

 probing with their long beaks in the mud of swamps and vleis. 

 All the species of snipe are of economic value. They are at 

 present very largely shot off for sport. 



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