58 PLOVER GROUP 



consequence locall)- known as " the small locust bird." These birds 

 appear in vast swarms during the South African spring ; that is to 

 say, after the first welcome showers of rain in September or October. 

 During the heat of the day they may be detected running through the 

 grass, or resting quietly in low-lying situations ; but in the late after- 

 noon or early morning they become more active, the flocks taking 

 wing as if by word of command, and flying round and round high in 

 the air, .so as to look almost like dust-clouds. They keep moving 

 forwards till a swarm of locusts is sighted, when the individual birds 

 break away from the main flock like the dispersal of a storm-cloud. 

 When the swarm is reached the birds attack from behind, flying and 

 darting through the locust swarm, with the result that a continuous 

 shower of the legs and wings of the insects falls to the ground. 

 The beak of this pratincole seems, indeed, to be specially adapted for 

 preying on locusts, as it exactly covers the body of the flying insects, 

 and with one snap shears off the wings and legs as effectually as if 

 two pairs of scissors were u.sed. Not only do these birds attack the 

 adult locusts, but they also prey on the immature insects, locally known 

 as voetgangers. When they are attacked by a flock of these birds the 

 voetgangers stop their regular march, and try to escape destruction 

 by taking cover among the herbage. All birds attack flying locusts 

 from the rear, as the rush of the insects would render a frontal attack 

 dangerous ; and so great is the attraction of these insects for the birds 

 that when they appear the most tempting baits are neglected. 



Turnstone ^Vith the pied and partially rufous bird appropriately 

 (Streosilas named, from its habit of turning over pebbles in 

 interores) search of its food, the turnstone, we come to the 



first representative of the group of wading-birds, or 

 Charadriida:, which is taken to include not only the plovers and their 

 immediate relatives, but likewise the snipe, avocet.s, etc. All these 

 birds are characterised by the nasal apertures in the dried skull being 

 slit-like, and the nostrils pervious, as well as by the presence of only 

 fifteen vertebra; in the neck. In the latter respect they resemble the 

 Glareolidae, and differ from the CEdicnemidie (in which there are sixteen); 

 from the Glareolida,' they differ by the lack of the comb-like structure 

 of the middle toe. The hind-toe is either short or absent. The eggs 

 are highly characteristic, being very generally, although by no means 

 invariably, four in number, and shaped like a peg-top, with one end 

 rounded, and the other conical, so that they lie compactly with the 

 pointed ends together in the slight hollow in the ground, sometimes 



