268 BIRDS OF DAMAEA LAND. 



Hoplopterus albiceps, Layard's Cat. No. 559. 

 Charadrius armatus, Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 415. 

 Hoplopterus speciosusj Finsch & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, 

 p. 639. 



This is a common Plover in Damara and Great 

 Namaqua Land, at Lake Ngami, and on the rivers 

 Teoughe and Okavango. It is a somewhat 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 Sichuana 

 name of " Setula tsipi," i. e. "iron-hammer " or " black- 

 smith ;" for its cries have a peculiarly metallic, ringing 

 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 dis- 

 covered one at Omanbonde, 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'". 



The iris is red ; the bill, legs, and toes are black. 



314. Chettusia COronata (Gmel.). Wreathed Plover. 



Pluvier du Cap de Bonne Esperance, Buftbn's PI. Enl. pi. 800 7 



vol. ix. p. 23. 

 Hoplopterus coronatus, Strickland Sclater, Birds Damar., Coutr. 



Orn. 1852, p. 159. 



