530 Mr. G. H. Gurney oti 



216. Parra africana. African Jacana. 

 Parra africana Gmel. 



Iris brown; bill of a blue-slate colour; forehead and crown 

 pale blue ; legs greenish slaty. 



The large African Jacana was quite common at Naivasha 

 and was always an interesting bird to watch. On the 

 unfrequented and little-visited west side of the Lake it 

 was extraordinarily tame, and on several occasions I lay in 

 the boat with two or more Jacanas within four yards of 

 me, quite unconscious of my presence, engrossed in walking 

 about on the water-lily leaves, which they kept continually 

 turning over with their beaks in search of insects. They 

 fly readily and strongly, with their loug legs held straight 

 out behind them. 



217. Parra capensis. Losser African Jacana. 

 Parra capensis Smith. 



Iris light hazel ; bill yellowish brown ; legs greenish 

 brown. 



A scarce l)ird, of which only one example was obtained at 

 Lake Naivasha ; it jjrobahly keeps rather apart from the 

 large Jacanas. The one shot was running about on the 

 water-lily leaves and was quite tame. 



218. IloPLOPTERUs spiNosus. Spur-wingcd Plover. 

 Hoplopterus spinosus (Linn.) . 



Iris red ; bill and legs black. 



219. Stephanibyx coronatus. Crowned Lapwing. 

 Stephanibyx corunatus (Bodd.). 



Iris yellow ; bill black, red at base. 



Not uncommon on the plains near Naivasha, but shy 

 and difficult to approach. It is very noisy, and keeps in 

 little flocks of three or four. 



220. ^GiALiTis pecuaria. Kittlitz's Sand-Plover. 

 jEgialitis pecuaria Strickl. 



Iris very dark brown ; legs bluish black. 



