OTIS AIRA. 64 
613. Ovis meLaANocastEr, Riipp. Black-bellied Bustard. 
Eupodotis melanogaster, Layard, B.S. Afr. p. 286. 
This Bustard has only once, that we are aware of, been found within 
the colony, Mr. Rickard having informed us of a single instance of 
its occurrence near Kast London. Dr. Hartlaub, on the authority of 
M. J. Verreaux, gives South Africa as a habitat; and it is included 
by Mr. J. H. Gurney as among the birds received from Natal. 
Messrs. Fellowes and Watson obtained it in Zululand and Natal, and 
Mr. Chapman procured it towards the Zambesi. Mr. Ayres writes: 
—“This very scarce and solitary bird is only occasionally met with 
in the Mashoona country; and we did not see it in Matabele Land. 
I have shot them many years ago on the coast of Natal, but have 
not seen them since. In fact I saw in this part of Mashoona Land 
many of the Natal coast-birds.’” Senor Anchieta has procured 
specimens from Huilla and Caconda in Benguela, the native name 
at this latter place being “ Quela.”’ 
Above, fuscous yellow, transversely streaked, and with large 
longitudinal black markings down the centre of many of the 
feathers ; cheeks dirty-white; chin, throat, a long line extending 
down the neck, breast, belly, and quill-feathers of wings and tail, 
black; a band of the same colour springs from above each eye, and 
joins at the occiput; shoulder and large portion of the wing, white. 
Length, 24”; wing, 13’ 4’"; tail, 6’. 
Fig. Riipp. Neue Wirb. pl. 7. 
614. Oris arra, Gm. African Black Bustard. 
Eupodotis afra, Layard, B. §. Afr. p. 286. 
The Knorhaan (lit. Scolding-Cock) is abundant throughout the 
whole colony, frequenting the open country. It feeds on insects, 
small reptiles, and seeds. The female deposits her two eggs in a 
depression of the soil, in which she places a few bents of grass. 
They are of an olive-green or brownish ground, spotted and blotched 
with brown and indistinct purple: axis, 2" 3’; diam., 1” 8’. It 
breeds at the Berg River in September, usually laying one egg, but 
sometimes two. 
It usually goes in pairs, and when followed by the sportsman 
always endeavours to evade pursuit by swiftness of foot rather than 
by flight. In this way we have seen it run before a pointer for. 
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