SCOLOPACID.fi. 321 



small crustaceans, which it finds in the shallows and muddy creeks. 

 Mr. Chapman procured it at the Zambezi. It is everywhere very shy, 

 and difficult to procure, the best way being to watch their roosting 



Elace, to which they nightly repair, and where several may be obtained 

 :om an ambuscade by a successful discharge. 



606. Geronticus Oalvus. (Bodd) Pi. Eni. 867; 



Cuv., Vol. 3, p. 361 ; Tantalus Niger, Gmel. ; T. 



Capensis, Forst. Descrip. An., p. 48 ; Ibis Calva, 



Vieil.; Shaw, Vol. J 2, PL 1, p. 7; Bp. Consp. 2, 



p. 153. 



GENERAL colour throughout, shining-green, glossed with 

 purple, with a patch of rich golden-copper on each shoulder ; 

 head, and portion of the neck, bare, and of a deep red-colour ; 

 as are also the legs. Length, 2' b" ; wing, 16" ; tail, 8J". 



The Wilde Kalkoen (wild-turkey) of Dutch colonists is not rare on 

 the Eastern frontier ; but seldom appears to the westward. I am told 

 it is a very foul feeder, frequenting the neighbourhood of native 

 villages, and acting the part of scavenger. It thrives well in confine- 

 ment, and becomes very tame. One in the possession of flis Excel- 

 lency Sir George Grey was at large in the Government Gardens ; he 

 walked with great rapidity, and was always seeking for food, probing 

 the ground with his long curved bill, and drawing thence the large 

 earth-worms, which he swallowed at a gulp. Mr. Albert Vigne shot a 

 fine female at Tygerhoek, on the River Zonder End, near Caledon, in 

 February, 1866. 



The Fourth Family, SCOLOPACID^B, 

 or Snipes, 



have the bill generally long, slender, curved, or straight 

 throughout its length, with the sides compressed and grooved 

 to the tip, tthich is obtuse ; the nostrils basal, longitudinal, 

 closed by a membrane, and placed in the groove ; the wings 

 long and pointed ; the tail usually short and even ; the tarsi 

 more or less long and slender ; the toes generally long and 

 slender, the lateral ones sometimes much united to the middle 

 toe by a membrane ; the hind toe short, resting on the 

 ground, or entirely wanting. 



The Sub-Family, LIMOSIN^E, or Godwits, 



have the bill generally long, slender, entirely curved, or 

 straight from the base, with the sides more or less grooved to 

 the tip, which usually overlaps that of the lower mandible, and 

 is obtuse ; nostrils basal, placed longitudinally in the lateral 

 groove ; wings long and pointed ; the tail usually short and 



