354 CHARADKIID^ BTEPHANIBYX 



what resembling the ring of a blacksmith's hammer, whence it has 

 derived its Bechuana and English name ; it may be heard both by 

 day and night. Ayres found its nests in the neighbourhood of 

 Potchefstroom in August and September ; they consist merely of 

 slight excavations in the bare ground some fifty to a hundred yards 

 away from the edge of a swamp, lined with a layer of grass roots ; 

 the eggs are two to four in number. 



The South African Museum contains two eggs of this Plover 

 from Omanbond6 in Damaraland, where they were obtained by a 

 friend of Mr. Andersson's. These are somewhat pointed at one end 

 and sandy-buff, profusely spotted with larger and smaller irregular 

 black spots; they measure 1'55 x' I'l. 



Genus VI. STEPHANIBYX. 



Type. 

 Stephanibyx, Eeichenb. Nat. Syst. Vog. p. 18 (1852) S. coronatus. 



Bill moderate, about as long as the middle toe and claw, with 

 a distinct swelling at the tip ; nostrils a linear slit in a depression 

 occupying at least two-thirds the length of the bill ; no facial 

 wattles; carpal spur represented by a slight projection; wings 

 fairly long, 'the second primary the longest; secondaries broad and 

 rounded at the tips, the difference between the longest primary and 

 shortest secondary not equal to half the wing ; tarsus reticulated ; 

 no hind toe ; basal web between the middle and outer toes well 

 developed. 



The species of this genus, three in number, are confined to Africa 

 and have all been met with within our limits. 



Key of the Species. 



A. Forehead black, crown black with an encircling 



band of white 8. coronatus, p. 355. 



B. Forehead white, crown ashy or dusky. 



a. Larger, wing over 8'0 ; under wing-coverts 



white throughout S. inelanopterus, p. 357. 



b. Smaller, wing under 8'0 ; outer and under 



wing-coverts grey, contrasting mth the inner 



white ones S. inornahis, p. 358. 



