SNIPE 257 



above, the feathers having paler edges and tips ; forehead 

 white and the top of the head brown, the two divided by 

 a black band. A broad band of white runs from above the 

 eye round the back of the head, enclosing the crown, and 

 below this a black band. Under-surface white, the breast 

 being tinged, with pale reddish-brown. Length, 6^ inches. 



This bird often congregates into smaU flocks, and may be 

 found on the veld — sometimes far from water — but generally 

 in the neighbourhood of Vleis and rivers. It is also found 

 along the coast. 



The Curlew {Ntimenius arquatus) is pale brown above 

 streaked with darker ; below white, sides of the face, neck 

 and breast with shaft-streaks of brown. Bill long and gently 

 curved. Length, about 2 feet. 



This bird is a migrant from Europe and Asia, and does not 

 breed in South Africa. 



The Redshank, Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, and Wood 

 Sandpiper, and several other species, are all migrants to 

 Southern latitudes, spending the winter months of the 

 northern hemisphere with us, and departing when our winter 

 sets in. They require descriptions too long for this book, 

 and if procured can easily be sent to the nearest museum 

 for identification. 



SNIPE 



The Double Snipe {Gallinago major) is of a mottled black 

 and huffish colour above ; four outer tail-feathers on either 

 side white ; below, neck and breast huffish streaked with 

 brown, chin and centre of abdomen white. Length, 11 inches. 

 Bill straight. 



Its congener, the Ethiopian Snipe (G. nigripennis), differs 

 in being darker, and the three outer tail-feathers are white 

 barred with dusky on the outer web. 



S 



