686 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
to Mr. Andersson, “this bird generally appears in Damara Land 
with the return of the rainy season, when it is not uncommon, and 
leaves again before the ruff of the male bird is put forth ; but I have 
reason to believe that it is to be met with in the Lake regions during 
the intervening period. It is chiefly found inland and but rarely on 
the coast. It feeds on insects and worms, for which it seeks in moist 
and humid situations ; but during the rainy season, when food is 
abundant, it may be found almost everywhere. It is a comparatively 
tame bird, and is generally to be observed in small flocks of from 
three to a dozen individuals—such flocks generally consisting of 
females with perhaps now and then a male, which is easily dis- 
tinguished by its greater size. This species when on the wing 
resembles J'ringa subarcuata, but is larger and swifter.”’ Senor 
Anchieta has procured it in various localities in Benguela and 
Mossamedes, and says that it occurs in South-Western Africa in 
large flocks during the European winter. 
Male.—In winter, with the bill brown; the feet greenish-yellow ; 
the throat and abdomen white ; the fore-neck and part of the breast, 
pale reddish-brown, spotted with dark brown; the upper parts 
variegated with brownish-black and light red. Female similar, but 
with the upper parts lighter, the lower more grey; the bill and feet 
dusky. Male, in summer, with numerous fleshy tubercles on the 
face, two occipital tufts, and a very large ruff of elongated feathers 
on the neck; the colour of the plumage varying in different 
individuals, and even in the same at different periods of the same 
season ; the bill and feet orange or yellow; iris hazel. Length, 12’; 
wing, 7” 6’”; tail, 3”. 
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. vii, pl. 545. 
658. Trincomes HypoLnucus (L.). Common Sandpiper. 
The Sandpiper is rather a rare bird in this colony, and but very 
few specimens have been seen. The first was forwarded to us in 
March, 1864, by Mr. Cowen, of the Paarl; another was shot about 
the same time on the Cape flats; and Mr. L. C. Layard procured 
a third on the rocks at Green Point, Cape Town. We saw a 
specimen or two at Zoetendals Vley, in November, 1865, and 
Comenang, on the Kowie River, in February, 1870. Dr. Bradshaw 
procured a specimen on the Orange River on the 25th of February, 
1852, and Captain Trevelyan tells us that he obtained one 
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