from Deelfontein, Cape Colony. 11 



These examples have still a few old feathers in the wings, 

 but most of the quills seem to be moulted. 



[In February the Avocets arrived in fair numbers, and were 

 common round all the dams. The Boers, who call the bird 

 a Sprinken Voul," had never seen so many as in 1902. It 

 does not breed in the neighbourhood.] 



14. Pavoncella pugnax. 



Machetes pugnax (Linn.); Sharpe, ed. Layard, p. 685 

 (1884). 



Tot anus pugnax (Linn.) ; Seeb. Distr. Charadr. p. 373 

 (1888) ; Reichenow, Vog. Afrikas, i. p. 216 (1900). 



Pavoncella pugnax Sharpe, Cat. B. xxiv. p. 500 (1896); 

 id. Hand-1. B. i. p. 162 (1899). 



a. $ ad. Deelfontein, Feb. 24, 1902. Feet yellowish 

 green. 



b. s ad. Deelfontein, March 10, 1902. 



The male bird is about to put on his frill, which would 

 have been white. 



[The Ruff was very common at Deelfontein from January 

 to March, being found in large flocks round all the dams, 

 and feeding in the wheat-fields. We found water-insects and 

 also wheat in the stomach.] 



15. Gallinago nigripennis. 



Gallinago nigripennis Bp. ; Sharpe, ed. Layard, p. 676 

 (1884) ; id. Cat. B. xxiv. p. 631 (1896); id. Hand-1. B. i. 

 p. 165 (1899); Reichenow, Vog. Afrikas, i. p. 236 (1900). 



a. 2 ad. Deelfontein, July 20, 1902. 



[We saw Snipes on three occasions, but whether they were 

 all of the present species we canuot say. One was noticed on 

 the dry road about six miles from any water, and the others 

 at Mynfontein dam, ten miles from Deelfontein.] 



16. CuRSORIUS RUFUS. 



Cursorius rufus Sharpe, ed. Layard, pp. 653, 855 (1884) ; 

 id. Cat. B. xxiv. p. 34 (1896) ; id. Hand-1. B. i. p. 170 

 (1899) ; Reichenow, t. c. p. 155 (1900). 



a, b. ? . Deelfontein, March 19-22, 1902. Bill almost 

 black ; feet enamelled white; iris dark hazel. These specimens 



