SCOLOPACTD^. 307 



At some hours of the day, probably when changing 

 their feeding-ground, and chiefly in the early morning, 

 these birds are more on the move than at other times ; 

 and the air over the lagoon seems then literally to teem 

 vi^ith their myriads, presenting a most animated picture 

 as the white portions of their plumage flash with almost 

 dazzling effect in the early tropical sunlight, especially 

 when the brightness of the scene is enhanced by the 

 presence in the flock of a large reinforcement of San- 

 derlings. 



In the afternoon, if, as is the case five days out of 

 seven at Walwich Bay, the wind blows strongly from the 

 south-east, these birds generally retire to some little 

 distance from the water and seek a large open flat in the 

 immediate neighbourhood. Whilst there they are ex- 

 cessively shy and difficult to approach ; and I may add 

 that I have observed that this temporary wildness is 

 common to most water-birds on the Damara coast when- 

 ever a high wind arises. On ordinary occasions the 

 Curlew Sandpiper is comparatively tame, and numbers 

 may be bagged without difficulty. Considerable varia- 

 tions of plumage are to be met with, as I have shot 

 at the same time specimens in the grey dress and 

 others in which the plumage has been almost of a 

 rusty red. 



These Sandpipers grow enormously fat, but are not 

 desirable birds for the table, as their flavour is excessively 

 fishy. 



The iris is very dark brown ; the bill, legs, and toes 



shining black. I have, however, seen some adult speci- 



x2 



