1 64 THE BIRDS OF ETHIOPIAN AFRICA 



Ludwig's bustard (Neotis ludwigi), the Stanley bustard (A. caffra), the black 

 khoorhan (Compsotis afra), Riippell's bustard (Heterotetrax rueppelli), the black- 

 bellied khoorhan (Lissotis melanog aster), and the Senegal khoorhan (Trachelitis 

 ccerulescens). The majority of the representatives of these six genera are natives 

 of southern Africa, but the above-mentioned species of Lissotis is Senegambian, 

 and there is a Neotis in Somaliland. 



Several species of thicknees (CEdicnemus) are found in Africa, among which 

 mention may be made of the dikkop or South African thicknee (CE. capensis) 

 and the Natal dikkop (GE. natalensis). The former is a migratory species, 

 ranging as far north as the tropic of Capricorn. 



Some of the most remarkable of all water-fowl (Anatidai) are the 



Gggsg unci Ducks 



'spur- winged geese of the genus Plectropterus, which are confined to 

 Ethiopia, where they are represented by several .species. These geese are char- 

 acterised by the indented webs of the toes, the naked area round the eyes and on 

 the forehead, and the presence of a long spur on each wing. The typical P. 

 gambensis ranges from Senegambia to the Zambesi and the Transvaal, while 

 Rtippell's spur-winged goose (P. rueppelli) is found in the north-east, the shoan 

 (P. shoamts) in Abyssinia, and a fourth species, P. niger, on the south-east coasts. 

 In colour these birds are mainly black and white. In the Sudan the typical species 

 occurs in small flocks, which frequent during the greater part of the year the 

 river-banks, but during the moulting-season, when they are unable to fly, take 

 refuge in the reedy marshes and swamps. In the breeding-season they separate 

 into pairs. To the south, where they lay more eggs than in the north, the} 7 occur 

 in large numbers on the reedy banks of Lake Ngami, the Chobi, and the Zambesi ; 

 but when the water-courses and pools are full, they leave the swamps, and wander 

 in pairs over the country, accompanied by their young. The large nest of reeds and 

 rushes is generally built in a low bush or among reeds. These birds are nocturnal, 

 feeding at night, and resting by da} 7 . The tree-ducks and comb-ducks are note- 

 worthy on account of their peculiar distribution ; one species of the former 

 (Dendrocycna viduata), characterised by its white face, occurring not only in 

 tropical Africa, but also in the tropics of America. The African species have a 

 reddish tinge on the white of the face. The comb-ducks (Sarcidiomis) are common 

 to Ethiopian Africa, India, and America. 



Brief mention may be made in this place of three other African 



PsliCcLns 



aquatic birds, namely, the red-beaked pelican (Pelecanus rufescens), 

 the white-throated cormorant (Phalacrocorax lugubris), and the African snake- 

 bird (Plotus levaillanti); all of which have habits generally similar to those of 

 their relatives in other parts of the world. Pelicans are known at the Cape by 

 the name of duiker, the Dutch equivalent for diver. 



Last, but by no means least, come the ostriches, the largest and 



most powerful of all living birds, and the only ones in which the 

 number of toes is reduced to two, of which the outer one is much the smaller. To 

 describe in detail such a striking and familiar bird would obviously be out of place 

 •on the present occasion, but it may be remarked that the cock is much taller than 

 the hen, standing over 8 feet, and when at speed covering 25 feet at a stride. 

 There are at least four species, or races, among which may be specially mentioned 



