NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



never found far from water. The food of these birds consists 

 of insects of various species and various small aquatic creatures. 

 The best known and most useful veld-loving species is the 

 crowned lapwing or kiewitje [Stephanibyx coronatus). It feeds 

 entirely on insect life which it finds on the ground and the 

 low veld bushes and grass. It is one of our most efficient 

 guardians of the veld. It subsists largely on grasshoppers and 

 weevils when these pests are abundant. All species of lapwings 

 and plovers are of considerable economic value. 



Black Oyster Catcher. 



[Hcematopus moquini.) 



Diet. — This handsome bird finds its food along the sea- 

 shores. It consists of small fishes, Crustacea, and mollusca. 



The Stilt. 



(Genus — Himantopus.) 



Diet. — Aquatic insects, small snails, etc., which it captures 

 in and at the margins of water. 



The Avocet. 



(^Rectirvirostra avocetta.) 



Diet. — Insects, worms, small Crustacea, and mollusca which 

 it finds along the coast and the mud banks of tidal rivers and 

 lagoons. 



The Curlew. 



{Numenius arquatus.) 



Diet. — The curlew seeks its food on the marshy flats of 

 tidal rivers, the mud banks and margins of lagoons, and the 

 sandy sea beach. It consists of a great variety of small marine 

 creatures. The curlew is often met with on the veld several 

 miles from the coast. The crops of those shot on the veld 

 contained grasshoppers and beetles. 



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