50 On the Birds of the Kroonstad District. 



affcer the parents, but if chased they suddenly squat down 

 behind a tuft of orass and are only found with difficulty. 

 Some say that the early appearance of the young indicates an 

 early season. That there may be something in. this is probable, 

 as I have noticed when birds like CoUopasser procne don their 

 courting garb early it means early rains, and vice versa. The 

 same applies to the Red Bishop Bird. I have never succeeded 

 in raising these Coursers in captivity. 



706. Rhinoptilus africanus. (Two-banded Courser.) 

 The same remarks apply to this Courser as to Burchell's, 



though I think they are not so common here, and I have never 



seen either in flocks. 



728. iEaiALiTis tricollaris. (Treble-collared Plover.) 

 This pretty little Plover is common about here, and is seen 

 alongside roads, near to water, and in drifts, &c. I have often 

 found the nest alongside a road in any depression suitable ; 

 the bird betrays herself by standing up off her nest and 

 scratching the ground, then dropping over her eggs, and 

 even when the spot is carefully marked one may stand over 

 the nest and not see the eggs. The eggs are large for the 

 size of the bird, and very prettily marked to suit the ground 

 on which they are laid. 



719. HoPLOPTERUS ARMATUS. (Blacksmith Plover.) 

 This rather handsome bird is very common here, never in 

 large numbers, but in pairs, and when a " shooter " is lying 

 wait for duck at a pan or dam have a most annoying manner 

 of hovering over him and screaming to tell all the wild-fowl 

 he is there. I think it must be a rather pugnacious bird by 

 its behaviour, and the sharp-pointed black spur on its wings 

 could hardly be there for ornament ; but so far I am not 

 aware of its enemies — except man, when he is duck-shooting. 



609. Ph(ENICOPTERUS roseus. (Greater Flamingo.) 

 I have seen these birds in wet seasons on the pans and vleis 

 of this district, particularly on the large dam of the Lace 

 Diamond Mine. Formerly tlioy were common every year on 



