NOTABLE SOUTH AFRICAN BIRDS 00 



natives say, is its frequent attendant. It has 

 certainly been discerned riding on the back of that 

 handsome beast. The tiny three-collared plover 

 (^gialitis tricoUaris) again is called the sea-cow bird 

 from its friendship to the hippopotamus or sea-cow, 

 with which it is often found associating. The spur- 

 winged plover (Hoploptenis armatits), to cite another 

 instance, has, at all events in South Africa, been 

 identified since the days of Pliny as the friend and 

 ally of the crocodile. There was long a doubt upon 

 this point, but of late years it has been conclusively 

 proved that this striking plover, with its black and 

 white plumage, noisy cry, and hatred of man, does 

 enter the open mouth of the reptile and perform 

 some service — whether by freeing it from leeches or 

 other parasites is not quite clear. It is certain that 

 the plover implicitly trusts the crocodile, and will 

 even allow it to enclose it within its jaws for a short 

 time. The saurian on his part never seems to take 

 advantage of his position. I am not aware that this 

 habit has been reported from South Africa, where 

 the spur-winged plover is widely distributed ; but 

 undoubtedly within the last three or four years it has 

 been fully established on the Nile by competent ob- 

 servers, and Pliny's reputation for truthfulness, long 

 maligned, is thus once more confirmed. 



Another bird, sometimes seen in company with, 

 and even perched upon the backs of buffalo, in 



