Mr. Ortlepp found it breeding on some vleys near Colesberg.
Mr. J. 0. Faure procured it at Cape Town, and we saw them in
great numbers at the Berg River. Here we obtained numerous
nests and eggs. The former are slight depressions on the summit
of some slightly-raised hummock in the soil which is always very
damp and generally flooded, being in fact the marshes at the mouth
of the river. The crust is lined with dry sedge or grass, and the
eggs, usually four, are placed with the thin ends together in the
centre. The young run and take to the water, swimming beautifully
within a few minutes of their exclusion, as we have witnessed, and
the parent birds are deeply solicitous for their welfare. The eggs
are pale greenish nankin, spotted sparsely throughout with black
spots of rather a large size, and abruptly pointed at the thin end.
Axis, 1" 9'" ; diam., 1" 8".
Mr. Rickard met with the Avocet once at Port Elizabeth, when
he procured two specimens, but the species was not seen afterwards.
Lieut. Stokes shot one near Newcastle early in October, but we have
no records of its occurrence from any of our other correspondents.
Mr. Andersson writes: “ This handsome and peculiar bird is
occasionally found on the south-west coast of Africa, and also occurs,
though less frequently, inland. In the .Cape Colony, however, I have
found the case, as regards its distribution, slightly reversed. I may
mention as inland localities for this species Otjimbinque, where I
have seen it once or twice, and Ondonga where it was shot by Axel.
At 'certain seasons the Avocet is not uncommon on the coast, at
Walwich Bay, Sandwich Harbour, Angra Pequena, &c.; but it
usually disappears from Damara Land during the breeding season,
though I have little doubt that a few pairs remain to nest there, as I
have occasionally met with very young birds during the dry time of
the year. The Avocet is generally observed in small flocks, and is on
the whole a shy and wary bird. It is an interesting object to the
ornithologist, to whom its graceful figure, as it quietly skirts the
glassy pool or wades amongst the shallows on the sea-shore, never
fails to be a source of pleasure. It feeds on insects, worms, thin-
skinned crustacea, &c., which it seeks when they are left exposed on
the mud or sand by the receding tide, and also by wading knee-deep
in shallow water.” Senor Anchieta has forwarded two specimens
from Mossamedes to the Lisbon Museum. Sir John Kirk states
that' on the Zambesi the Avocet is not unfrequent.
Upper part of head and hind-neck, for half its length, black; the
rest white, excepting some of the scapulars, the smaller wing-coverts,
and the primary quills and coverts, which are black; legs and feet
black, the latter partially webbed; bill black, very long, slender, and
turned considerably upwards. Iris red. Length, 18"; wing, 9" 3"';
tail, 3" 3"'; bill, 3" 3'".
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. vii, pi. 534.
648. H imantopus candidus, Bonn. Black-winged Stilt.
But one specimen has been obtained near Cape Town. I t was
killed on the Cape Flats by Mr. Dumbleton, to whom we are indebted
for many rare birds, shot by his own hand. A pair were observed,
but the other escaped. We have seen this species very abundantly
in Ceylon, in the tanks scattered throughout the jungle. I t is
usually in small companies, wading up to the extent of its long legs,
and even swimming across small holes or depressions which it may
encounter while wading. It feeds on small crustaceans, worms, and
shells, and is easy of approach, till it learns to fear the presence of
man. On being flushed, the flock flies round and round, each bird
uttering a loud cry of “ wheet-wheet-wheet,” in a different key, the
whole forming a pleasing music, as agreeable to the ear of the
naturalist as the cry of a pack of hounds is to that of a fox-hunter.
To our great astonishment we found this bird in abundance at the
Berg River, breeding in company with the preceding from which in
its nesting it is undistinguishable: the eggs also much resemble those
of II. avocetta, but may be known at once by the practised eye.
Breeds in September, and is called Roodepoot Elsje, lit. “ red-legged
cobbler’s awl.” The likening of the bills of these two birds to an
awl is not bad !
Mr. Andersson writes: “ This species is sparingly met with in
the middle and northern parts of Damara Land, but more frequently
in the Lake regions, and on the River Okavango. I have always
found it singly or in pairs. It feeds on insects, snails, shells, &c.,
and is a conspicuous and interesting object, being lively and graceful
in its actions, both when running (which it does with considerable
celerity) about the sides of marshes and streams, and when wading
quietly in shallow water.” Senor Anchieta has met with the
2 x 2