CHARADRIAD^E. 287 



tke back of the head, ear-coverts, half-collar on back of 

 neck, and part of wings, pure white ; the rest of the plumage 

 deep black ; legs bright yellow. Length, 19" ; wing, 12" ; 

 tail, 5". The female differs from the male in having the 

 whole of the head, neck, and breast of the same colour and 

 markings as the back. 



The Knorhaan (lit. Scolding-Cock) is abundant throughout the whole 

 colony, frequenting the open country. It feeds on insects, small 

 reptiles, and seeds. The female deposits her two eggs in a depression 

 of the soil, in which she places a few bents of grass. They are of an 

 olive-green or brownish- ground, spotted and blotched with brown and 

 indistinct purple : axis, 2" 3'"; diam., 1" 8'". 



It usually goes in pairs, and when followed .by the sportsman always 

 endeavours to evade pursuit by swiftness of foot rather than by flight. 

 In this way I have seen it run before a pointer for several hundred 

 yards, squatting at intervals, but all the time keeping a careful watch 

 on its approaching enemy. 



549. Eupodotis Afroides, Smith, Zooi, s. Af., 



PI. 1 9. 



RESEMBLES the preceding in every respect, except the one 

 great distinguishing mark, viz. : on opening the wings the 

 quill- feathers of this species will be found with a large blaze 

 of white on them, while those of E. Afra are entirely black. 



Frequents the country to the north of the Orange River, and is 

 rarely seen south of it. " Its call differs considerably from that of E, 

 Afra, but in most of its habits they closely resemble each other." Dr. 

 Smith, loc. cit. 



The Second Family, CHARADRIADJE, 

 or Plovers, 



have the bill short, with the basal portion of the culmen 

 rather depressed and weak, and the apical portion strong and 

 swollen ; the nostrils placed in a deep longitudinal groove of 

 various lengths ; the tarsi lengthened ; the hind toe totally 

 wanting, or small or elevated. 



The Sub-Family, OEDICNEMIN^l, or Thick- 

 knees, 



have the bill as long as, or longer than, the head, with the 

 culmen slightly depressed at the base and swollen at the tip, 

 and the gonys more or less angulated ; the tarsi lengthened, 

 with three rather short toes in front. 



