80 NATURE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



to rely entirely upon their running and walking 

 powers. Even when followed and disturbed by the 

 gunner, they will trust, if possible, to make good 

 their escape by quick running, or, as in the case of 

 the bronze-winged courser, by lying concealed in the 

 long herbage, and only rise upon the wing as a last 

 extremity. And even when thus forced into the 

 air, they seem to have great objection to a long 

 flight, and quickly go down again. 



Of all the coursers — indeed, I may say, of all the 

 plovers — the remarkable violet- winged courser {Gut- 

 S07^ms chalco'^Unis) is, to my mind, the most beautiful. 

 When first I shot a specimen of this very hand- 

 some bird, and had it in my hands, I thought I 

 could never tire of looking at it. The first point that, 

 of course, attracts attention, is the wonderful shining 

 metallic violet of the wing-tips, from which the 

 bird takes its name. The pale desert-brown of the 

 upper colouring serves admirably for concealment in 

 the country over which the bird ranges. The breast 

 is of a lighter shade, strongly marked by a neat 

 black band. The throat, under-parts of the body, 

 and rump are clear white. The long slender legs, of 

 a brilliant red, and the reddish-orange ring round 

 the eyes impart just the requisite touch of colour 

 to this exquisite bird. The wing-quills are black, 

 tipped, as before described, with iridescent violet. 

 The head of this bird is strongly plover-like, and the 



