1 66 SOME BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Sand-Plovers, which I think out-numbered any of the 

 others. These birds would start up from the half- 

 flooded ground, having concealed themselves from view 

 by the margins of the small pools and in the slight un- 

 evenness afforded by the ground. Kittlitz's Plovers 

 bred in great numbers about Knysna, always in the 

 neighbourhood of water, but they were more of an 

 inland breeding species than the White Sand-Plovers, 

 and were not generally seen on the sea-shore. These 

 Plovers, when put up from their feeding grounds, utter 

 a low note resembling the syllables to-whit as they 

 fly off, to settle again shortly. 



The nesting habit of these birds is perhaps their 

 most remarkable feature, and without being acquainted 

 with this peculiarity one might search in vain for their 

 nests. The ground on which they lay their eggs is 

 sometimes covered with short grass, but more often 

 waste pieces of land are chosen, on which grows such 

 scant vegetation as may be found on ground which is 

 occasionally flooded with brackish water. The only 

 way to find the eggs of these Plovers is to watch the 

 birds themselves very carefully. Suppose a bird to be 

 marked down to its nest, and to remain in such a 

 position that you are quite sure it is sitting, you get 

 up and go to the spot, keeping your eyes carefully on 

 the place all the time ; when you arrive there, no trace 

 of any nest is to be found, although you know the exact 

 spot from which the bird rose. I am afraid you w r ill 

 not derive much assistance from the bird itself, for it 

 will probably be standing a few yards away from you, 

 giving now and then a stiff little bow similar to the 

 one given by the White Sand-Plover ; if you turn your 



