Occasional JS^otes. 131 



XII. Notes on Waders observed ox the Coast of 

 British East Africa. 

 Mombasa. October and beginning of November, 1900. 



In the mangrove-swamps : a few Curlew ; plenty of 

 Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper. 



On the coral-reefs : a few Curlew Sandpiper ; large 

 flocks of Sanderling, and many Ring-Dotterel ; the latter, 

 though not in large flocks, were the most numerous, 

 being scattered in small parties up and down the coast. 

 Tahaungu (40 miles N. of Mombasa). 



End of November 1900. In mangroves : a few 

 Curlew and Greenshank, but no Whimbrel. 



On the reefs : Ring-Dotterel and Grey Plover com- 

 mon ; Sanderling rare. 



January and February 1901 : Curlew and Greenshank 

 common in every creek, but, with the exception of Ring- 

 Dotterel, few of the smaller Waders were to be seen. 



Middle of March : Curlew and Greenshank in very 

 much smaller numbers ; Curlew Sandpiper numerous in 

 small flocks and very tame. Sanderling appeared for a 

 few days only : they were in large flocks. 



I feel sure I saw Turnstones, but as I did not bag any 

 I cannot be absolutely certain of the identity. 

 ^Shimoni (60 miles S. of Mombasa). 



May 15th : a few Curlew and Whimbrel only. 

 Identification certain in every case, except Turnstone. 

 Specimens of all other species were secured. 



A. Blayney Percival, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 



Nairobi. B.E.A. 



XIII. The English Si'akrow Question. 

 The ' Transvaal Agricultural Journal ' for January 1908 

 contains a letter from one of our American members — 

 Dr. Frederick D'Evclyn, President Cooper Ornithological 

 Club of California — regretting the appearance of the English 

 Sparrow in Pretoria, and pointing out what a veritable curse 

 its introduction into the United Sttites has become. 



