SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 



Hoplopterus spinosus 



Arabic, Zie-zac 



Crown, nape, chin, centre of throat, breast, and tail black ; 

 white cheeks, white under and above tail, back and sides of 

 wings a grey-brown, a sharp hard spur on point of shoulder, bill, 

 feet and legs black, eyes rich crimson. Entire length, 12 ins. 



Whether this or the Black-headed Plover is to 

 have the honour of being the bird Herodotus has 

 made famous will probably ever be a matter for the 

 Schoolmen to argue over, but lately I came across 

 Dr. Leith Adam's note, explaining the reason why 

 he insists that the Spur- winged Plover is the real 

 friend of the crocodile and not the Black-headed, — 

 i.e. " Codling not Short." " The crocodile, tired of 

 keeping its jaws wide open, just shuts them, to the 

 everlasting peril of the bird ; were it not for those 

 two sharp spurs on his wings he of course would be 

 suffocated and later doubtless swallowed, but by 

 these spurs, when the roof comes down on the top 

 of him, he just reminds his patron of his existence, 

 by jabbing the tenderest parts of the interior of his 

 mouth." This is said invariably to refreshen the 

 sleepy crocodile's faculties, so that he remembers 



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