455 
Expedition to the Zambesi River. 
251. Totanus glareola (Linn.). 
First observed on Aug. 24, becoming more numerous in 
November. When walking this species has the same habit 
of flirting its tail up and down as the Common Sandpiper. 
Adult. Iris brown ; legs and feet brownish green. 
On Sept. 13 we obtained a specimen in worn breeding- 
plumage. 
252. Tringoides hypoleucus (Linn.). 
Common. First obtained on August 24. 
253. Numenius arquata (Linn.). 
The well-known whistle of the Curlew was heard on 
October 3. 
254. Rhynch^ea capensis (Linn.). 
By no means common, frequenting the muddy portions of 
the pools near the river. It is not a shy bird, flying low 
over the ground to alight a few paces further ahead, where 
it commences to flirt its tail up and down, after the manner 
of the Sandpipers. It feeds chiefly at dusk. 
Adult A (Dec. 1, 1898). Organs in breeding-condition. 
Iris brown; bill brown ; legs and feet greenish. 
Our three specimens are all males. 
255. Himantopus candidus Bonnat. 
The Black-winged Stilt was occasionally observed in pairs 
on sandspits in the river. 
256. Rhinoptilus chalcopterus (Temm.). 
It is somewhat difficult, when examining the series of this 
species and of its near ally, R. albofaseiatus (Sharpe), to decide 
as to the validity of the latter species. From the increased 
material now at hand it certainly may be questioned. The 
peculiar characteristics of R. albofaseiatus are—(1) the 
white bar down the wing, formed by the broad white margins 
of the greater wing-coverts; (2) the dull bronzy green, 
scarcely purple, ends of the quills; (3) the absence of the 
white band at the tip of the tail-feathers. (Sharpe, Cat. B. 
Brit. Mus. xxiv. p. 50.) Among the series of R. albofaseiatus 
21.2 
