OTIS AFRA. 



BLACK KNOIIHAAN. 



(Plate 9.) 



Otis afra, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., i, p. 724 (1788) ; Sharpe's ed. Layard 

 Birds of S. Air., p. 641 (1875-84) ; Nicolls & Eglington, Sportsman 

 in S. Afr., p. 115 (1892) ; Reichenow, Vogel Airikas, i, p. 25(5 

 (1900-01) ; Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. SIus., m, p. 357 (1905) ; Sclater 

 and Stark, Birds of S. Air., iv, p. 292 (1906). 



Compsotis afra, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxiii, p. 293 (1894). 



Local Names. " Ivnorhaan " of the Colonists ; " Ikala Kalu " of 

 the Amaxosa (Stanford). 



Description. The bird figured is an adult male. The female is 

 exactly hke the female figured in the plate of Otis afroides, but 

 \vithout the white patch on the primaries. Length about 21 in. 



Distribution. The Black Knorhaan is only found in the Cape 

 Colony south of the Orange River. To the north of the Orange 

 River it is replaced by its very near relative the Wliite-quiUed 

 Knorhaan {Otis afroides). It does not extend further eastwards 

 than the division of Albany. 



In its general habits this bird much resembles the White- 

 quilled Knorhaan, 



I have not shot much down country and consequently 

 do not know this Knorhaan well. The cock birds when 

 flushed get up with a great fluster and a startling harsh cry 

 exactly like that of the White-quiUed. They then usually 

 fly round in large circles and pitch,, and if the grass is long 

 they can be walked-up with the aid of a dog, but they rarely 

 rise in the same place in which they pitched, as they nearly 

 always run after settling ; on bare ground they may sometimes 



22 



