NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 

 Crowned Lapwing, or Kiewitje (Stephanibyx coronatus). 



(Vol. II., p. 298.) 



Description. — Male : the centre of the crown is black, 

 surrounded by a white ring ; round this again is a black ring 

 which runs from the forehead round above the eye and meets 

 on the nape. The back and the wings are pale olive-brown. 

 The greater wing coverts have a broad white stripe which, 

 together with some of the minor secondaries, forms a white 

 band. Primary coverts white. The upper tail coverts and 

 the tail are white. The tail has a broad band of black near 

 the end. Below, white for the most part. Sides of face, neck, 

 and breast olive-brown. There is a narrow transverse band of 

 black across the breast, which divides the olive-brown from the 

 white. Iris yellow. Bill bright red, the tip, however, being 

 horn colour. Feet coral red. Toes red, tinged with purple 

 on upper surface. 



Length, 12.0 ; wing, 7.7 ; tail, 3.5. 



The female resembles the male both in size and plumage. 



The young bird is duskier in plumage than the adult. 



Distribution. — The crowned lapwing is fairly abundant 

 throughout South Africa, especially on the high veld. 



Habits. — The crowned lapwing, or kiewitje, is usually found 

 in small flocks up to about 20 individuals. It frequents the 

 open veld, where it spends the day in searching for insects, 

 such as grasshoppers, small snails, and beetles, which form its 

 staple diet. It is especially fond of freshly burnt grass-land, 

 because insects are to be found there with greater ease. It 

 has a loud plaintive call, which it is constantly emitting both by 

 day and night. It is a very active bird, flying and running 

 extremely well. The nest is usually just a slight hollow in the 

 ground, sometimes lined with a thin layer of dead grass roots. 

 The eggs are 3 in number. These are rather pyriform in shape, 

 and of a yellowish-brown ground colour, blotched all over 

 with black-brown and indistinct purple. They measure about 

 1.6 by 1. 15, and are laid between August and October. 



190 



