times found in companies of a dozen together, though generally not
more than two or three are met with. They fly about the intruder
on their haunts with loud screams of disapprobation, and keep up a
constant clatter to the annoyance of anyone intent upon Snipes or
other feathered game, among which they thus produce a state of
unwished-for watchfulness. The eggs of this Plover are generally
from two to four in number; the nest is simply a slight excavation
on the bare open ground, with a thin layer of grass-roots, and is
generally placed from fifty to a hundred yards from the edge of
some swamp. The birds breed in August and September, and are
at this time exceedingly bold, darting at the heads of any cattle
that happen to come too near their nests, and actually driving them
away by their incessant noise and annoyance.” Mr. Barratt says:
“ I met with them in suitable places close to Lydenberg, and in the
greater part of my journey from Bloemfontein to the G-old-fields. I
found them also on my trip to Rustenberg.” The late Mr. Frank
Oates procured this species on the Shashe River in October, 1874,
and on the 19th of January it was met with by Dr. Jameson's
expedition at the Great Chine Pan, but Mr. Ayres states it was not
so plentiful here as in some parts of the Transvaal, especially along
the Mooi River. Mr. Andersson gives the following note: “ This
is a common Plover in Damara and Great Namaqua Land, at Lake
N’gami, and on the Rivers Teoughe and Okavango. I t is a somewhat
local bird in Damara Land on account of its partiality for
water; indeed I have never seen it far from the water, but generally
in the immediate neighbourhood of springs, marshes, lakes, and
streams. I t is always found in small flocks, and, where not
disturbed, is comparatively tame; when flushed it rises with short
rapid jerks of the wings, but never flies far at a time. I t is very
noisy when on the wing, and hence probably is derived its Sechuana
name of ‘ Setula tsipi/ i.e., firon-hammer’ or 'blacksmith;5 for its
cries have a peculiarly metallic, ringing sound. This Plover feeds
on insects and worms; and its flesh is palatable. It breeds in
Damara Land, as, although I have not met with its nest myself, one
of my friends discovered one at Omanbonde, and presented the two
eggs which it contained to the Cape Museum. These eggs are
buff-coloured, profusely spotted with dark brown; their length is
1" 6'", and their breadth I" 1"'.” Senor Anchieta has collected
it both on the Coroca River in Southern Mossamedes, as well as
in the interior at Huilla and Humbe, where it bears the name of
Kukolekole.
General colour, black; top of head, and forehead, patch at back
of neck, lower front of belly, vent, and basal two-thirds of tail,
white; lesser wing-feathers grey; legs and bill black; wing armed
with a sharp spur. Length, 12"; wing, 8' 7"'; tail, 4" 6"'.
Fig. Temm, PI. Col. 526.
643. H oplopterus cra ss iro st e is , De Filipi.
Thick-billed Spur-winged Plover.
A single example of this rare species was obtained by Mr.
Fellowes at Ihluhlui Bay, a little inlet in Santa Lucia Bay, but we
have seen no other specimens.
Front two-thirds of the head-centre of neck, wing (with exception
of three first quill feathers), basal half of tail, sides, belly, and vent,
pure white; back of head and neck, chest, three first wing-feathers,
shining jet black; base of back of the neck and back, and wing
secondaries, grey-brown; apical portion of tail black; legs and base
of bill red; point black; cere of eye red. Length, 13"; wing,
7" 8"'; tail, 4" 6'"; wing spur, 3'"; irides, black.
644. C h e t t u s ia melanoptera, Rupp. Black-winged Lapwing.
Hoplopterus melanopterus, Layard, B. S. Afr., p. 204.
The genus Chettusia is recognizable by its three toes and by the
absence of a spur on the wing and of the facial lobes. Procured in
certain circumscribed localities in the neighbourhood of Mossel Bay
by Messrs. Atmore. Mr. Glanville informs us that several have
been shot near Grahamstown on the Commonage, and Mr. T. Atmore
has forwarded it from Eland’s Post. Mr. Rickard tells us that it is
very common at Port Elizabeth and East London, and forwarded an
egg which he took out of a bird shot on the 23rd of August, 1869.
I t is very unlike that of H. coronatus, being of a pale grey-green
ground, spotted throughout with rather small blotches and spots of
various shades of brown and light purple, rather thickest at the
obtuse end. Axis, 1" 9'"; diam., 1" 2"'.
In British Caffraria, says Capt. Trevelyan, “ it is common, but
to the west of the Fish River its place appears to be taken by
C. coronata. It is said to have occurred in Natal.
General colour of back, brown, with a purple gloss; forehead,