NOTES FROM NATAL. 425 



as usual. Five or six seen together at the mouth of the Umgeni, 

 near Durban, on the 26th December (R). 



Totanus canescens (Gmel.), Greenshank.— Frequently seen, 

 singly, in the " vleys " in the Newcastle district in September and 

 October, but no specimen obtained. Its well-known note was 

 quite familiar to our ears. 



Totanus calidris (Linn.), Redshank.— Seen at the mouth of 

 the Umgeni River, near Durban, on the 26th December (R). 



Totanus glareola (Linn.), Wood Sandpiper.— Common in the 

 " vleys " and on the banks of streams near Newcastle in Septem- 

 ber and October, and several specimens obtained. Also obtained 

 on the bed of a small stream near Pietermaritzburg on the 7th 

 December by Reid. 



Actitis hypoleucus (Linn.), Common Sandpiper. — Met with 

 sparingly on all the streams and rivers in the neighbourhood of 

 Newcastle in the winter and spring. 



Recurvirostra avocetta, Linn., Avocet. — One shot near New- 

 castle early in October by Lieut. Stokes, R. A. (F). 



Machetes pugnax (Linn.), The Ruff.— First observed by Butler, 

 and a specimen obtained by him in the " vleys " to the east of 

 Newcastle on the 18th September. Afterwards common, usually 

 noticed in small flocks. 



Tringa subarqiiata (Guldenst.), Curlew Sandpiper.— A male 

 obtained by Reid at the mouth of the Umgeni, near Durban, on 

 the 26th December. Several others seen. 



Tringa minuta, Leisl., Little Stint.— Not uncommon about 

 the " vleys " in October and November. Lieut. Giffard obtained 

 three on the 12th October near Newcastle, and kindly presented 

 one to Reid. 



Gallinago (Bquatorialis, Riipp.— Not numerous in the " vleys " 

 till the middle of June, when they came in abundantly, ten couple 

 being several times bagged by a single gun. They must breed 

 from about December to March, for Butler heard of a nest con- 

 taining fresh eggs taken at Mount Prospect in February, and 

 of young birds being seen in the same locality in April. They 

 are not difficult birds to shoot, lying much closer, as a rule, than 

 the northern species, and flying more slowly and heavily. 



Rhynchaa capensis (Linn.), South African Painted Snipe.— 

 Not met with till July 20th ; afterwards common in the thick 

 sedge and grass in the •« vleys." No nest was found, though 



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