262 BIRDS OP THE SEA AND COAST 



has the neck of a specMy nature, is larger (length, 27 to 30 

 inches), and has only twelve tail-feathers. It is much 

 scarcer than the above species, but like it, breeds on the Guano 

 Islands off the South African coast. The eggs resemble those 

 of the Trek Duiker, but the nest is different, being composed 

 of seaweed. 



Of the Gannets (Family Sulidae) the Cape Gannet or 

 Malagash {Sula capensis) is also well known on the coast. 

 It is a white bird with the tail and portion of the wings 

 dark brown. The naked skia round the eye, and about 

 six inches down the throat, is black. Length, about three 

 feet. The young bird is dark brown, speckled with white. It 

 breeds on the Guano Islands off the coast already mentioned, 

 and together with the Cape Cormorant supplies most of the 

 guano collected annually. It lays a single egg in a hollow 

 in the ground or in a depression scratched in the layer of 

 manure. 



ORDER LIMICOL^ 



Many of the Plovers and Sandpipers are found along 

 the coast, as well as on the inland rivers and lakes. Some 

 of them have already been dealt with. Suffice it for us now 

 to refer to a few of the commoner littoral species. 



The White-fronted Sand Plover {Charadrius mar- 

 ginatus) is of a pale ashy-grey colour above, and white 

 below. In the breeding plumage it has a black band across 

 the forehead, and a buffy tinge on the breast. Length, 

 6|- inches. It is essentially a show bird, and is a common 

 resident. Like the Three-coUared Sand Plover, it lays two 

 blotched and marbled eggs in a depression in the mud or 

 sand. 



The Black Oyster-catcher (Haematopus moquini) is quite 

 black with a red bill and legs. Length, 21 inches. It is 



