OTIS MELANOGASTER. 



BLACK-BELLIED KNOEHAAN. 



(Plate 7.) 



Otis melanogaster, Riippell, Mus. Senckenb., n, p. 240 (1837) ; 

 Sharpe's ed. Layard Birds of S. Afr., pp. 641, 854 (1875-84) ; 

 Nicolls & Eglington, Sportsman in S. Afr., p. 115 (1892) ; 

 Reichenow, Vogel Afrikas, i, p. 256 (1900-01) ; Sclater, Ann. 

 S. Afr. Mus., m, p. 357 (1905) ; Sclater & Stark, Birds of S. Afr., 

 ry, p. 303 (1906). 



Lissotis melanogaster, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxm, p. 806 (1894) ; 

 Woodward, Natal Birds, p. 117 (1899). 



Description. Adult male and female as in figure. Length about 20 in. 



Distribution. This bird is widely distributed over the greater part 

 of Africa, from Gambia in the west and Abyssinia and the White 

 Nile in the east, southwards tlu'ough German East Africa and 

 Nj^asaland to the Zambesi. 



In South Africa it has been once recorded from Cape Colony, 

 and is not imcommon in Natal, Zululand, and Mashonaland, but 

 does not apparently extend to the high plateau of the Orange 

 River Colony and the Transvaal. 



I have not myself seen the Black-beUied Knorhaan in South 

 Africa, but in East Africa it is by no means rare. 



I HAVE always found these birds singularly stupid and easy to 

 kill, even in the most open country, so long as you do not 

 walk straight at them. I have never seen more than a pair 

 together. In East Africa they frequent open downs and 

 flats as well as country that is dotted with mimosa thorns, and 

 are quite the most delicious of all the game-birds found there. 

 Sergt. C. G. Davies writes me : " This is the only 

 Knorhaan found in Pondoland, where it was not uncommon 

 some years ago, but it is rapidly decreasing in numbers, 



18 



