304 OTID^ OTIS 



widely spread over the greater part of Africa from Gambia in the 

 west, and Abyssinia and the White Nile in the east, southwards 

 through German East Africa and Nyasaland, to the Zambesi. It 

 also occurs in Angola. Within our limits it has been once recorded 

 from Cape Colony ; it is fairly common in Natal, Zululand and 

 Mashonaland, but does not apparently reach the high plateau of the 

 Orange Eiver Colony and the Transvaal. 



The following are recorded localities : Cape Colony — East 

 London, once observed (Eickard) ; Natal — Congella Plats, near 

 Durban (Bt. Mus.), Port Shepstone and York (Maritzburg Mus.), 

 Ivuna Eiver in Zululand (Woodward) ; Ehodesia — near Victoria 

 Palls (S. A. Mus.), Mashonaland, generally (Marshall), Umfuh 

 Eiver (Ayres). 



Habits. — The Black-bellied Knorhaan is not a common bird 

 in South Africa and little is known of its habits. It is found 

 usually solitary, but sometimes in small companies, on open 

 grassy downs and flats ; it is a bird of heavy flight, and usually 

 endeavours to escape from danger by crouching down on the 

 ground. In winter it often becomes extremely fat, and is then 

 most excellent eating. The Woodwards say that when hidden by 

 long grass the male bird makes his presence known by gobbling like 

 a turkey, and further, that during the breeding season the males 

 become very pugnacious, fighting like game-cocks with beak and 

 foot. The vanquished do not take flight, but slink off, the victor 

 pursuing and pecking them vigorously. The Woodwards found 

 an egg of this bird in Zululand, laid on the bare ground ; it was 

 cream-coloured and smeared and blotched with dark brown. 



698. Otis hartlaubi. Hartlauh's Knorhaan. 



Otis hartlaubi, Heuglin, Journ. Ornith. 1863, p. 1; Shelley, B. Afr. i, 



p. 185 (1896) ; Beichenow, Vbg. Afr. i, p. 259 (1900). 

 Lissotis hartlaubi, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxiii, p. 807 (1894). 



Description. Adult Male. — Similar to 0. melanog aster in every 

 respect, but with the lower back, rump, upper and under tail- 

 coverts and tail black. 



Length 27; wing 13'6 ; tail 6'7; tarsus 4-7; culmen 1-95. 



Distrihution. — This Knorhaan is found in Senaar, Somaliland 

 and British East Africa. It is included among our birds solely on 

 the record of an example from South Africa in the British Museum, 



