156 Mr. S. S. Allen on the Birds of Egypt. 



XIII. — Notes on the Birds of Egypt. By S. Stafford Allen. 

 [Continued from p. 34.] 



5. The Spur-winged Plover [Hoplopterus spinosus). 



The Spur-winged Plover, curious and interesting as it may be 

 in its habits to an unconcerned spectator, is anything but a 

 favourite with the sportsman ; for to its vigilance and noisy 

 activity he probably owes the loss of .many a good bird that 

 might otherwise have been added to his bag. Woe to the un- 

 lucky ornithologist who, in attempting to get within shot of 

 some scarce and shy bird, happens to come across one of these 

 mischief-makers ! for, as if equally aware of his intentions and 

 its own worthlessness, it hovers over his head, jerking out its 

 warning cry of " Zac ! zac ! zac ! " until every bird is effectually 

 scared away from the vicinity. Constantly, whilst thus em- 

 ployed, does it pay the penalty of its intei-ference, by receiving 

 the charge intended for its betters, from which it would other- 

 wise have been perfectly safe. Abundantly distributed over the 

 country, and not at all shy, the " Zic-zac" (as the Arabs call it) 

 is seen in pairs or small flocks, both by the river-side and in the 

 fields, its strongly contrasted black-and-white neck, with the 

 more sober dun of its back, attracting the attention of the most 

 careless observer as it stands with a knowing air on the top of 

 a ridge or hillock, ready to give notice of anything suspicious. 

 The sharp spurs which are placed on the carpal joint of each 

 wing are not worn merely for ornament -, for these Plovers are 

 most pugnacious birds, and know how to use these weapons 

 with effect in their frequent battles among themselves, or with 

 their "pet aversion" the Hooded Crow [Corvus comix). This 

 spur is mostly used whilst on the wing, by darting at the 

 object of their dislike and making a sudden turn upwards on 

 reaching it, striking at the same time. I am inclined to 

 think, however, that it is occasionally used on the ground, as I 

 have several times seen a Zic-zac put down its head and run at 

 another in a threatening manner, though I never saw a blow 

 actually struck. The spurs are often quite worn down, perhaps 

 through the frequency of these encounters, which are said by 

 the natives to be occasionally attended with fatal consequences. 



