356 CHABADRIID^ STEPHANIBYX 



Distribution. The Crowned Lapwing is found in considerable 

 abundance throughout the greater part of South Africa, especially 

 on the high veld; it does not appear to reach the coastlands of 

 Natal nor has it hitherto been recorded from Ehodesia, though this 

 last is probably due to lack of observation. Beyond our limits it 

 extends through Nyasaland and East Africa as far north as Somali- 

 land and Shoa. It appears to be a resident everywhere. . 



The following are localities : Cape Colony Malmesbury (Stark), 

 Worcester (S. A. Mus.), George (Victorin), Port Elizabeth (Brown), 

 East London, common (Wood), Peddie (S. A. Mus.), Eland's Post, 



ff 

 FIG. 116. Head of Steplianibyx coronatus. x ||. 



i.e., Seymour (Bt. Mus.), Deelfontein, common (Seimund), Orange 

 Eiver at Upington, rare (Bradshaw), near Aliwal North, common 

 (Whitehead), Spaldings in Barkly West district (Ayres) ; Natal 

 Escourt and Newcastle (Reid), Colenso (Seebohm), Zululand (S. A. 

 Mus.) ; Orange Eiver Colony near Bloemfontein (Barratt), Vrede- 

 fort Eoad (B. Hamilton) ; Transvaal Sabi Eiver in Lydenburg 

 (S. A. Mus.), Bisschops Farm near Springs (Oates), near Johannes- 

 burg, common (Haagner), Potchefstroom, January, June (Ayres), 

 near Palla on Limpopo (Bryden) ; Bechuanaland Tati (Oates), 

 Ngami region (Andersson) ; German South-west Africa Eeheboth 

 (Fleck), Otjimbinque and Okavango Eiver (Andersson). 



Habits. The Kiewit or Kiewitje is found usually in small flocks 

 of from twenty to thirty individuals especially in winter, scattered 

 all over the country about open grassy places and often far from 

 water ; they are active both by day and night and can frequently be 

 heard calling on moonlight nights. The call is loud and plaintive 

 and very characteristic. They fly well and quickly but are also 



