COURSERS 133 



surface much like that of the first-mentioned species. 

 The legs and feet are greenish-slate, which in itself is 

 quite sufficient to distinguish this bird from the other 

 species. 



The Water Dikkop is fairly common in the neighbour- 

 hood of some of the vleis in the Brandfort and Winburg 

 districts of the Orange River Colony. 



The eggs resemble those of the Bush Dikkop but are 

 a little smaller. 



COURSERS. 



The Coursers are included in the Family Glareolidce 

 by Mr. Sclater, and form a separate subfamily, the Cur- 

 soriince, the second subfamily being the Glareolince con- 

 taining the Pratincoles or Locust Birds, which were dealt 

 with in the Second Chapter. 



There are five varieties of Coursers in South Africa, 

 birds called " Draverkies " (lit. Trotters) by the Boers. 



They have long legs, no hind toe, long pointed wings, 

 and a short square tail. 



The Rufous Courser (Cursorius rufus) is reddish-brown 

 above, back of head slate-blue surrounded by a U-shaped 

 edging of white which springs from above the eye, and 

 runs between two black lines. Breast similar to the 

 back, with a black patch on the lower portion ; rest of 

 under-parts white. 



This species ranges from the high veld of the Cape, 

 throughout South Africa to the Limpopo. It is very 

 common on the flats of the Orange River Colony, where 

 it may be found in flocks or small parties, often consorting 

 with the Two-banded Courser. It is exceedingly partial 

 to the burnt stretches of veld, where it feeds on seeds 

 and insects. It is excessively fond of termites and ants, 



