448 Mr. M. J. NicoU — Contributions 



food is almost absent, is difficult to say. Unfortunately I was 

 away when the bird was forwarded, so 1 cannot say in what 

 condition the body was at the time that it was shot. Just 

 before I visited the Wadi in November 1911, Mr. Balboni 

 met with a small flock of Oystercatchers at the southern end 

 of the Wadi, but was unable to shoot any. 



GaLLINAGO CCELESTIS. 



Gullinayo media Leach, Shelley, p. 2J^9 ; Loat, Ibis, 1905, 

 p. 459. 



This Snipe is a common visitor during the spring and 

 autumn. In March 1910 I saw^ many at the fresh-water 

 springs near the Salt Lakes, and examples were obtained. 

 Mr. Balboni has since sent me further specimens. Again, in 

 November 1911 I saw a number of Snipe. Up to the 

 present time I have no records of this species breeding in 

 the Wadi, but as I believe it does so in the Delta, it mai/ be 

 a resident in the Wadi Natron. 



Gallinago gallinula. 



Gallinago gallinula Shelley, p. 24.9 ; Loat, Ibis^ 1905, 

 p. 459. 



During March 1910 I saw a few Jack Snipe in the Wadi 

 Natron, and in November 1911 several were again seen. 



Rhynch^a capensis. 



Rhynchaa capensis Shelley, p. 250, 



I have received specimens of the Painted Snipe from 

 Mr. Balboni, shot in spring and autumn, but have no 

 records of the species during the breeding-season. There is 

 no doubt that it breeds in the Delta, however, and it may 

 do so in the Wadi Natron. 



Tringa alpina. 



Tringa cinclus Shelley, p. 253, 



During my visit in March 1910 I saw a few Dunlins, and 

 on October 23rd, 1910, Mr, Balboni shot one, which he 

 forwarded to me. Unfortunately, the specimen was too 

 much decomposed for preservation. lu November 1911 

 I saw two Dunlins near the factory. 



