662 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
distance before taking wing. When driving in a troop of fifty or 
one hundred mares Mr. Kotze often discovered their nests by the 
courageous little bird facing the whole troop, flapping her wings, 
and assuming a threatening attitude; the galloping mares would 
divide right and left and avoid the small atom, and she thus 
preserved her nest. In the Transvaal, Mr. Ayres says: ‘‘ These 
birds frequent the muddy flats, and run with considerable swiftness, 
stopping suddenly, and bobbing the head, as many of the Plovers 
do.” In a further note he observes: “This species migrates to 
this part of the country during the present month for the purpose 
of breeding; it is found sparsely in pairs, frequenting stony and 
tussocky ground, where vegetation is scanty, and generally at no 
great distance from water; it disappears during the winter months. 
The stomachs of this bird and its mate (killed at the same time) con- 
tuined insects, principally a species of white ant.’ Mr. Andersson 
writes : “This pretty little Plover is not uncommon in Damara 
Land ; but I do not think that it breeds there. It is to be seen in 
flocks, often composed of a considerable number of individuals, and 
feeds on the small insects which are to be found in the moist and - 
humid localities to which it is partial. At some seasons I found it 
very abundant at Otjimbinque, but I do not recollect having ever 
observed it on the sea-shore.’”? Senor Anchieta has procured it in 
Benguela, where it is called Kanhiapraia. 
General colour above, ashy-brown, variegated with light ash ; 
forehead, semi-circular band round the back of the head, chin, 
throat, and vent, white; a black band extends across the head, just 
behind the white of the forehead, through the eyes and behind the 
white collar; a black patch extends from the bill to the eye; wings 
black ; chest and belly, isabella-yellow ; four lateral tail-feathers on 
each side, isabella-yellow, tinged with grey, the rest dark ashy- 
brown; bill and legs black. Length, 6’ 6”; wing, 4’ 5’; tail, 
Im oM 
Fig. Harting, Ibis, 1873, pl. 8. 
637. AderaLiris TRIcOLLARIS (Vieill.). Treble-collared Sand-Plover. 
This pretty little Plover, the Strand-looper of the colonists, is 
common throughout the colony, frequenting equally the sea-shore, 
the natural vley, artificial dam, or river. We found it abundant in 
the water-holes of the Karroo rivers, and equally so on the sea-shore 
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