SCOLOPACl©^. . 327 



and much rounded; tarsi long, moderately strong, and covered 

 in front with narrow transverse scales ; toes long, with the 

 outer one united at the base by a membrane to the middle 

 toe, the inner one free, the hind one moderate, elevated ; the 

 claws short and acute. 



616. Tringoides Hypoleuca. (Linn.) pi. Eni. 



850 ; Tringa Hypeleucos, Linn. ; Common Sandpiper, 

 Bewick's Brit. Birds, p. 103 ; Tringa Leucoptera, Pall. 



Bill dusky ; feet greenish-grey ; upper parts glossy greenish- 

 brown, transversely banded and undulated with dark-brown ; 

 lower parts white, excepting the fore part, and sides of the 

 neck, which are greyish, with faint dusky lines. Young, 

 with upper parts lighter, the feathers margined with dusky 

 and reddish; iris hazel. Length, 8" 6'"; wing, 4" 9'" ; 

 tail, 2" 5'". 



The Sandpiper is rather a rare bird in this colony, and but very few 

 specimens have been seen. The first was forwarded to me in March, 

 1864, by Mr. Cowen, of the Paarl ; another was shot about the same 

 time on the Cape Flats ; and my son procured a third on the rocks at 

 Green-Point, near Cape Town. I saw a specimen or two at Zoeten- 

 dals Vley in November, 1865. 



The Sub-Family, RECURVIROSTRIN^, or 



Avocets, 



have the bill lengthened and slender, with the sides grooved 

 to the middle, and compressed towards the tip, which is 

 acute ; the nostrils linear and membranous ; the wings long 

 and pointed ; the tail rath-er short and rounded ; the tarsi 

 long, slender, and covered in front with reticulated scales ; 

 the tibia long, and denuded of feathers for some distance 

 above the knee ; the toes moderate, sometimes free, and 

 sometimes entirely united by a web to the ends of the toes, 

 the hind toe extremely short or wanting; the claws short. 



Genua RECURVIROSTRA, Linnceus. 

 Bill very long and slender, with the culmen slightly 

 depressed at the base, the sides grooved to the middle, and 

 compressed to the tip, which is gradually pointed ; the 

 nostrils lateral and placed in the groove, with the opening 

 linear and membranous ; wing^s long and pointed, with the 

 first quill the longest ; tail short and rounded ; tarsi much 

 longer than the middle toe, rather compressed, and covered 

 in front with reticulated scales ; toes united together by *n 

 indented web ; the outer toe rather longer than the inner ; 

 the hind toe extremely short'; the claws short, compressed^ 

 and acute. 



