191 8.] Birds met with in South Africa. 601 



winter-plumage, and did not see any more until 27 December, 

 when thousands arrived in tlie Lake Chrissie district and 

 remained until the 31st. This bird, like the Wiiite Stork, is 

 never shot, owing to its invaluable services as a locust 

 destroyer, and it is, I suppose in consequence, quite absurdly 

 tame. 



Tringa minuta. Little Stint. A flock of Little Stints 

 frequented a " pan " on the farm for about a week in 

 October. I shot one out of this flock on 13 October — 

 a young bird acquiring its first winter-plumage. 



Machetes pugnax. Ruff. A large flock of these birds 

 frequented the same pan during October, November, and 

 December, but were very wild. I shot three on 12 December 

 which were all adult Reeves having just comj)leted their 

 autumn moult. 



Totanus nebularius. Greenshank. Two seen on 4 Nov- 

 ember (Lake Chrissie). 



♦- 



Totanus totanus. Redshank. During the voyage out 

 on 22 September, between Lat. 7° & 8° N., a Redshank 

 appeared over the ship flying in company with three 

 Whimbrel. All four birds circled round once calling, 

 and then disappeared due south, flying very fast and 

 strongly. 



Totanus glareola. Wood-Sandpiper. This bird was very 

 common duiiug October, November, and December, and 

 usually to be met with beside any river or water-pan. 

 Two I shot on 8 November and 5 December were both 

 adults and both undergoing full moult. 



Numenius phaeopus. Whimbrel. During the outward 

 voyage, on 10 September, when oil' the coast of Portugal and 

 far out to sea, having passed 150 miles west of Finisterre, 

 a very weary-looking Whimbrel appeared and flew round 

 the shij), calling for about half an hour, occasionally trying 

 to alight on the boat-deck. On the 17th at 9 a.m. (twelve 



