300 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



where it searches for its food, which consists of small 

 marine insects, Crustacea, worms, &c. 



At some seasons these birds grow very fat, and they 

 are palatable as food, especially when they have not 

 frequented the sea-shore for too long a period. 



The Curlew swims with considerable ease, but appears 

 not to take to the water by choice. 



The iris is dark brown ; the bill brown, with a tinge 

 of ochry yellow on the basal half of the lower mandible. 



353. Numenius phseopus (Linn.). British Whimbrel. 



Nmnenius phcBopus, Gould's Birds of Europe, pi. 303. 

 „ „ Layard's Cat. No. 608. 



„ „ Chapman's Travels in S. Afi\, App. p. 419. 



„ ,, Finsch & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, p. 739. 



So far as my observation goes, the Whimbrel is less 

 common in Damara and Great Namaqua Land than the 

 Curlew, and, in fact, is but rarely met with. Its food 

 consists of snails, shells, crabs, insects, &c. 



The iris is dark brown ; the upper mandible of the 

 bill and the extremity of the lower are brown; the 

 remainder of the lower mandible is livid ; the legs and 

 toes are greenish blue. 



354. Totanus calidris (Linn.). Common Eedshank. 



Totanus calidris, Gould's Birds of Europe, pi. 310. 

 „ „ Layard's Oat. No. 611. 



[This species did not occur in Mr. Andersson's last collection ; 

 and his notes do not refer to it; but it is included by Mr. 

 Layard {loc. cit.) amongst the species obtained at Lake Ngami, 

 and Mr. J. E. Harting informs me that he has seen a specimen 

 from Walwich Bay. — Ed. J 



