45 7 
Expedition to the Zambesi River . 
The correct sexing of specimens in the case of these two 
species will therefore be of vital importance. I am well 
aware that there are two sexed females of R. chalcopterus 
with white on the tail-feathers in the British Museum :— 
c. Adult $ , Damaraland (C. J. Anders son), Feb. 3. (This 
bird, as already pointed out, has quite as much white on 
the wing-coverts as typical examples of R. albofasciatus.) 
/. Adult $, Lake Shirwa (Jan. 1, A. Whyte). On the 
other hand, it must not be forgotten that all the female 
specimens of R. albofasciatus in the British Museum have 
no white on the tails, which we have proved to be present 
in the males. 
The breeding-season is in October, since there is an adult 
specimen of R. chalcopterus obtained off the nest Oct. 28, 
1895, at Henga, near Deep Bay, Nyasa. 
The two above-mentioned specimens from Damaraland 
and Lake Shirwa were therefore obtained in the non-breeding 
season. At that time ascertainment of the sex in many 
cases is very difficult, and we have found by experience that 
if the utmost care is not taken an error can easily be made. 
We obtained two specimens, a fully adult male and female, 
near Senna, and practically in the same locality; these are 
referred for the present to R. chalcopterus :— 
Adult $ (near Senna, July 27, 1898). Upper parts clear 
brown; greater wing-coverts banded with white ; tail tipped 
with white; iris black; eyelids red ; bill black, red at gape 
and base of lower mandible; legs and feet brick-red. 
Adult ? (near Senna, Aug. 4,1898). Wing-coverts banded 
with white; quills less bright than in male; tail uniform 
brown. 
In the figures of R. chalcopterus and R. albofasciatus (Cat. 
xxiv. pi. iv.) the chin and throat are given as white. In 
fully adult birds the feathers of these parts are brown, varied 
with black. 
257. Glareola pratincola (Linn.). 
Three adults obtained, the last specimen at Chishomba, 
Oct. 29, 1898. This species resorted to the sandbanks in 
I 
