668 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
times found in companies of a dozen together, though generally not 
more than two or three are met with. They fly about the intruder 
on their haunts with loud screams of disapprobation, and keep up a 
constant clatter to the annoyance of anyone intent upon Snipes or 
other feathered game, among which they thus produce a state of 
unwished-for watchfulness. The eggs of this Plover are generally 
from two to four in number; the nest is simply a slight excavation 
on the bare open ground, with a thin layer of grass-roots, and is 
generally placed from fifty to a hundred yards from the edge of 
some swamp. The birds breed in August and September, and are 
at this time exceedingly bold, darting at the heads of any cattle 
that happen to come too near their nests, and actually driving them 
away by their incessant noise and annoyance.” Mr. Barratt says: 
“‘T met with them in suitable places close to Lydenberg, and in the 
greater part of my journey from Bloemfontein to the Gold-fields. I 
found them also on my trip to Rustenberg.”’ The late Mr. Frank 
Oates procured this species on the Shashe River in October, 1874, 
and on the 19th of January it was met with by Dr. Jameson’s 
expedition at the Great Chine Pan, but Mr. Ayres states it was not 
so plentiful here as in some parts of the Transvaal, especially along 
the Mooi River. Mr. Andersson gives the following note: “ This 
is a common Plover in Damara and Great Namaqua Land, at Lake 
N’gami, and on the Rivers Teoughe and Okavango. It is a some- 
what local bird in Damara Land on account of its partiality for 
water ; indeed I have never seen it far from the water, but generally 
in the immediate neighbourhood of springs, marshes, lakes, and 
streams. It is always found in small flocks, and, where not 
disturbed, is comparatively tame; when flushed it rises with short 
rapid jerks of the wings, but never flies far at a time. It is very 
noisy when on the wing, and hence probably is derived its Sechuana 
name of ‘Setula tsipi,’ 7.e., ‘iron-hammer’ or ‘ blacksmith ;’ for its 
cries have a peculiarly metallic, rmging sound. This Plover feeds 
on insects and worms; and its flesh is palatable. It breeds in 
Damara Land, as, although I have not met with its nest myself, one 
of my friends discovered one at Omanbondé, and presented the two 
eggs which it contained to the Cape Museum. These eggs are 
buff-coloured, profusely spotted with dark brown; their length is 
1” 6”, and their breadth 1” 1’”.” Senor Anchieta has collected 
it both on the Coroca River in Southern Mossamedes, as well as 
