Omanbond£, Otjimbinque, and Hykomkap on the River Swakop;
tbose wbicb I have observed were always solitary'and were feeding
on the sedgy borders of marshy places or sluggish streamlets. Their
food consists of small insects.”
Upper parts, brownish-grey, shot with greenish, aud with a slender
black streak along the shaft of each feather; forehead, chin, throat,
and chest, white, mottled finely with grey streaks and spots; under
parts, and bar along the wing, pure white. Length, 9" (of which the
bill is 1" 9", and curved upward); wing, 4" 9"; tail, 2" 3"'.
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. viii, pi. 557.
666. N um en iu s arcuatus, L. Common Curlew.
The Curlew is not uncommon on our sea-border throughout its
whole extent. It maintains its characteristic shyness, and rarely
falls to the gun of the sportsman. We never heard of its breeding
in the colony, though it is found here throughout the year. We
met with it up the whole east coast, as far as the Line. Schlegel
separates our South African species from the European bird on
account of its size, and calls it Numenius major. Mr. Rickard, has
observed it near Port Elizabeth and East London. Mr. Ayres
observes : “ There are great numbers of these birds in the Bay of
Natal; and I think there are two or three species, as they vary much
in size. They are exceedingly shy, and difficult to shoot; they are
gregarious, and feed at low water on the mud-banks; they utter
precisely the same note as the Curlew in England, and their habits
appear to be the same.” Single examples were occasionally met
with by Majors Butler and Eeilden and Captain Reid, near Newcastle,
in September and October. Mr. E. A. Barratt obtained one
specimen near Potchefstroom, and observes that he has never seen
it farther north. Writing from the Transvaal Mr. Ayres remarks :
“ This is a very scarce bird in these parts, two specimens were
seen last year (1876) of which I have procured one. I did not hear
either of them utter the usual cry of the Curlew : both were silent.”
Mr. T. C. Buckley observed it on one occasion in the Transvaal.
Mr. Andersson says : “ The common Curlew is sparingly met within
the interior of Damara and Great Namaqua Land, but is more
frequent along the coast and in the islands. I t is most commonly
seen in pairs, but at times in small flocks. It is an exceedingly wary
bird, and, from the open character of the localities it frequents, often
defies the -efforts of the sportsman. It loves flat marshy lands and
the open sea-beach, 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. Senor Anchieta has obtained three specimens on
the Coroca River in Mossamedes.
Plumage of the head, neck, and fore part of the back, light
reddish grey, streaked longitudinally with blackish brown; hind
part of the back white, with narrow longitudinal dark marks; tail
white, with twelve dark brown bars; the breast, sides, and
abdomen, white, with lanceolate dark brown spots and bars; bill
very long (six to seven inches) and curved downwards. Total length
(of male), 25"; wing, 12" 6'"; tail, 4" 6"'. The female is somewhat
smaller.
Fig, Dresser, B. Eur. viii, pi. 563.
667. N umenius p h ^ opus, L. Whimbrel.
The Whimbrel seems to be a rarer bird in South Africa than the
Curlew. Two specimens came under our notice during our residence
at the Cape, one being shot by Mr. L. C. Layard near Cape Town,
and the other by Mr. Butler in the same locality. Mr. W. Atmore
says that they are common at the mouth of Brak River, and at the
Knysna Lakes. Mr. Ayres has met with them in Natal, but says
that they are not so common there as the Curlew, with which they
associate. He has also shot a specimen near Potchefstroom in
the month of November. Mr. Andersson writes :—“ 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.”
Upper part of the head, dark brown, with a medial and two
lateral whitish bands, streaked with dusky; neck, all round, pale
brownish grey, streaked with brown; feathers of the fore part of
the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, dusky, . with marginal
whitish spots; hind part of back white; tail and coverts, greyish
white, barred with dusky; chin, hind part of breast, and abdomen,
white; fore part of breast streaked; sides and lower wing-coverts