from the colony of Natal, in South-eastern Africa. 217 



they always prefer ground from which the grass has recently 

 been burnt, to hunt for their food. They arc exceedingly shy, 

 and yet stupid ; for although there is no cover, if the sportsman 

 take a large circle round and round the bird, gradually nearing, 

 the Bustard will frequently squat down with his head to the 

 ground, thinking he will be passed unnoticed, when the sports- 

 man may run up to within easy shooting distance. 



109. (Edicnemus maculosus, Temm. Spotted Thick-knee. 

 Male and female. Eye bright yellow ; legs yellow ; dark along 



the front; bill yellow at the base, black towards the tip. 



These birds feed, I believe, entirely on insects. They are very 

 generally dispersed over the colony of Natal, appearing on the 

 coast with the Bustards in the month of June. Like the Bus- 

 tards, they will almost invariably try to hide themselves from the 

 sportsman by crouching on the ground. When on the wing, the 

 legs are extended straight out behind, similarly to the Herons. 



110. CuRSORius BURCHELLi, Swaius. Burchcll's Courser. 

 Male. Legs white ; bill black. Contents of the stomach small 



beetles. 



These birds are scarce here ; they frequent the open country, 

 and are to be found after the grass has been burnt off, when I 

 have no doubt they more easily find their food. These birds run 

 with extraordinary swiftness, much faster than any of the other 

 kinds of Plovers here, notwithstanding their small size. 



111. Vanellus melanopterus, Riipp. Black-winged Lap- 

 wing. 



Male. Eye light yellow; legs and bill black. 



Like the preceding species, this Plover feeds in the open 

 country, and like it, is seldom to be found within ten or twelve 

 miles from the coast. These birds have a loud harsh note, very 

 similar to the Green Bee-eater here, and when on the wing they 

 utter this note almost incessantly, more especially if they see a 

 dog or other animal, when a lot of them will immediately fly 

 towards the intruder, circling round and round within a few 

 feet of it, seemingly with the intention of driving it away, which, 

 with dogs, they generally succeed in effecting. 



[In the 'Atlas' of Dr. Riippell, the legs and feet of this species, 



