330 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



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". 



The habits of this bird have been so well described by numerous 

 authors, that they need not be alluded to here the more so as it does 

 not assume its nuptial dress and pugnaceous feelings in this country, 

 only visiting us during the non-breeding period. It seems generally 

 distributed. Mr. Ayres has found it in Natal ; and I have received it 

 from Colesberg, the Xnysna, Traka ; and have shot it myself on the 

 Cape Flats. 



Genus TRINGA, Linn. 



Bill as long as or longer than the head, straight, slender, 

 with the sides compressed at the base, and rather dilated and 

 depressed at the tip ; the nostrils placed in a nasal groove, 

 which extends to near the tip, basal, lateral, and longitudinal ; 

 wings moderate and pointed, with the first quill the longest ; 

 tail rather short, and nearly even ; tarsi strong, rather long, 

 and covered in front with transverse scales ; toes moderate, 

 slightly united at the base of the outer toe, and all margined 

 on the sides by a membrane ; the hind toe very small and 

 elevated. 



620. Tringa Oanutus, Linn. ; PL Eni. 365, 366 ; 



Tringa Cinerea, Lath. ; The " Knot" Bewick's Brit. 

 Birds, p. 84; T. Glareola, Pall.; Gould's Birds of 

 Eur., PL 324. 



IN winter, the plumage is ash-grey above, white beneath ; 

 the neck and sides streaked with dusky. In summer, the 

 back glossy black, variegated with yellowish-red ; the fore- 

 neck and breast, yellowish -red. The young : grey above, 

 each feather on the back with a double marginal band of 

 black and white. Length, 10" ; wing, 6" 9"' ; tail, 2" 9'". 



South Africa, teste Hartlaub (Orn. W. Af., p. 237). Sed non vidi. 



621. Tringa Subarquata, Gmei, PI. Eni. 85 1 ; 



Scolopax Africana, Gmel. ; Scolopax Subarquata, 

 Gmel. ; Sc. Caffra, Forst. ; Sc. Pygmcea, Gmel. ; 

 Numenius Africanus, Lath. ; Numenius Pygmceus, 

 Lath. ; Pigmy Curlew, Bewick's Brit. Birds, p. 73. 



BILL half as long again as the head, considerably decurved 

 at the end, and black. Plumage in winter : brownish-grey 

 above, each feather with a dusky streak ; the sides and fore 

 part of the neck, with a small portion of the breast, greyish- 



