Walwich Bay. Dr. Bradshaw procured a specimen on the Orange
Biver in December, 1881, and Mr. Ayres has met with it in Natal
frequenting the sea-shore. Sir John Kirk found it on the shores
of Lake Nyassa, and Mr. Andersson observes, “ The Turnstone is
pretty common all along the south-west coast of Africa, and is found
either in pairs or in small flocks. I never met with the nest of this
species in Africa, although I was acquainted with its mode of
nidification from having seen its nests on the coast of Sweden.”
General colour of the upper parts, dark brown, glossed with green
and purple, the feathers edged with pale brown; fore-part and sides
of the head, brownish-white, mottled with black ; throat white; a
band on each side from the lower mandible, the side of the head
behind the ear-coverts, and the fore-part of the neck, black; the
feathers slightly edged with whitish; the rest of the lower parts
pure white, as on the hind part of the back and the upper tail-
coverts, some of the rump-feathers, however, being black; the tail
is white at the base, brownish-black towards the end, edged
externally with light-brown, the outer web of the outer, and the tips
of all, excepting the two middle, white; legs and feet orange;
claws black, as is also the bill; the lower mandible tinged with red
at the base. Length, 9" 9'"; wing, 6" 4'"; tail, 2" 9"',
Fig. Dresser, B. Bur. vii, pi. 532.
647. . H je m a t o f u s c a p e n s i s , Licht. African Black Oyster-Catcher.
Hcematopus moquini, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 300.
The “ Oyster-Catcher ” is not uncommon along the shores of
South Africa, extending far towards the Line on both sides of the
continent. It is generally found in pairs, and feeds on small fish,
mollusca, &c., which it picks up along the margin of the retreating
tide. The colours of all the naked parts change considerably after
death. It breeds with us; and we have been favoured with eggs,
collected by Mr. Hugo, of Simon’s Town, who procured them along
the shore towards Cape Point. The eggs are generally two in
number, laid in a simple depression in the sand, in the debris
accumulated just beyond high-water mark. They are of a greyish
cream-coloured ground, generally, but rather sparsely covered with
coarse, irregular wavey black and dark brown broken lines: axis,
2' 6///; diam., 1” 9'". Mr. L. C. Layard found it breeding on
Robben Island about Christmas, 1865. Mr. Rickard has found
the species at Port Elizabeth and East London, but it is not
plentiful at either place; he found them breeding on Cove Rock
near East London. Mr. Ayres says : " These curious birds
are very scarce in Natal; they frequent the sea-shore, are active
in their habits, and run with considerable swiftness ; they feed
along the sandy beaches; on the receding of a wave they run
quickly into the shallow water, and inserting their wedge-shaped
bill up to their heads in the sand, haul out small crabs, which having
secured, they run high and dry to devour at leisure.” Mr. Andersson
writes as follows : “ This species is not uncommon on the mainland
of the South-west African coast, as well as on the adjacent islands, in
which latter localities it breeds. It is usually observed in pairs;
but I have seen it in considerable flocks at Walwich Bay late in
October and early in November: the birds composing these flocks are
always too shy to be approached within gunshot; they rise with a
shrill cry, which is continued during their flight; and they generally
soar to a great height before re-alighting, sometimes, indeed, taking
their departure altogether, on which occasions they generally steer to
the northward. This species feeds on worms, insects, and mollusca,
searching for the latter in crevices and under stones ; and whilst
thus engaged it sometimes swims a short distance from rock to rock.
It makes no nest, but deposits its eggs on the shingle of the beach;
these are four in number, of a drab colour, with eccentric streaks
and spo'ts of very dark brown. I have been told that the flesh of
this Oystercatcher is excellent, but have not myself tasted it.”
All over a deep black; bill and cere round the eyes in life, coral
red; legs deep crimson; bill, 2" 8'" long, flattened throughout, and
very much compressed at the point.
Fam. SCOLOPACID^.
647. R ecu rv irostra avocetta (L.). Avocet
The Bonte Elsje, lit. “ pied cobbler’s awl,” occurs periodically in the
colony in small flocks. It does not appear to be very shy, as many
have been yearly procured on Zeekoe Yley, on the Simon’s Town
and Wynberg road ; among them several specimens in very young
plumage. Mr. Henry Jackson killed two or three specimens near
Nel’s Poort in February, 1866; at the same time, Mr. W. Keal
procured some near Beaufort.
2 x