872 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



of the hour, I was unable to stop and procure specimens ; but a short 

 time afterwards I received a tern from Tulbagh, a village at the epd of 

 the same valley (which is enclosed between high mountains), though 

 distant about sixty miles, which I immediately recognised as belonging 

 to the same species as those at Brandt Vley. It answers in all 

 respects to Swainson's description (loc. cit.) of the short-footed tern, 

 and as such I consider it. 



Genus DROMAS, Paykull. 

 Bill longer than the head, and straight, with the culmen 

 gradually sloping to the tip, which is acute ; the lateral 

 margins straight, the sides compressed, and the gonys very 

 long, ascending, and much angulated at the base ; the nostrils 

 placed in a broad, short groove, and covered posteriorly by a 

 membrane, leaving an oval opening exposed ; wings long, with 

 the second quill the longest ; tail moderate and broad ; tarsi 

 very long, compressed, and covered in front with transverse 

 scales ; toes long, with the anterior ones palmated to the end 

 of the toes, but much indented in the middle ; the hind toe 

 long, free, and partly resting on the ground. 



690. Dromas Ardeola, PaykuU, Pi. Coi, 362 ; 



Erodia Amphilensis, Salt's Trav. Abyss., IV., p. 60 ; 



Lath. His. Birds, IX., PL 149. 

 General colour, white, with a black patch between the 

 wings ; wing-feathers black ; head more or less mottled with 

 black ; sometimes a grey tint on the back and shoulders ; bill 

 black, very strong ; legs long, black ; feet semipalmated. 

 Length, 1" 3'"; wing, 8"; tail, 2" 9'". 



This curious bird is said to be allied to the terns. It frequents the 

 whole of the East Coast of Africa as low down as Natal ; but its 

 favourite localities are sand-banks far out to sea. It feeds on small 

 crustaceans, which it collects while walking. I never saw it take its 

 prey on the wing. It runs with considerable swiftness. 



The Second Family/^ OOLYMBID^, or 



Divers, 



have the bill more or less long, much compressed, straight 

 and acute ; the nostrils placed in a longitudinal groove, with 

 the opening basal, linear, or rounded ; the wings moderate, 

 with the first quill longest ; the tail very short ; the tarsi 

 short and much compressed ; the toes long, and the three 

 anterior ones more or less united together by a membrane ; 

 the hind toe short, and margined by a small membrane. 



* Owing to an unfortunate displacement of the MSS., an error in the sequence of 

 the Families occurred, and >vas not discovered until the preceding sheets were struck 

 off.— E. L. L. 



