CIIAKADUIIDJE .EGIALITIS 369 



chest are two black bands separated by a narrow white one ; rest of 

 the under parts and axillaries white ; under wing-coverts ashy with 

 white tips. 



Iris hazel ; wattle round the eye orange to red ; bill black ; base 

 pink ; legs flesh-coloured with a purplish tinge. 



Length (in flesh) 6-5 ; wing 4-20 ; tail 2-3 ; culmen 0-65 ; 

 tarsus 0'95. The sexes are alike, and there is hardly any difference 

 between the summer and the winter plumage. The young birds 

 have the feathers on the upper parts edged with buffish-white, and 

 the collars on the nape and upper mantle are absent. 



Distribution. — This little Plover is found throughout the greater 

 part of Africa, from Abjssinia and from Loango, or even, perhaps, 

 Gaboon, southwards to Cape Colony, and appears to be everywhere 

 a resident bird. 



In South Africa it is abundant throughout, as the following list 

 of selected localities will show : Cape Colony — Cape division, March 

 and October (S. A. Mus.), Caledon (Harris), Knysna (Victorin), Port 

 Elizabeth and East London (Eickard), Orange River, near Uping- 

 ton, November (Bradshavy, in S. A. Mus.), Hanover, August (S. A. 

 Mus.), King William's Town (Trevelyan), Port St. Johns (S. A. 

 Mus.), Deelfontein (Seimund), Linokana, near Mafeking (Holub) ; 

 Natal— Durban (Seebohm), near Newcastle (Bt. Mus.) ; Orange 

 Elver Colony — Kroonstad, November (Symonds) ; Transvaal — near 

 Potchefstroom, March, May, August to October (Ayres), near 

 Johannesburg, common (Haagner) ; common in Mashonaland 

 (Marshall) ; German South-west Africa — throughout (Andersson) ; 

 Portuguese East Africa — Tete (Kirk), and Mesanangue (Alexander) 

 on the Zambesi. 



Habits. — This little Sand Plover is common everywhere in South 

 Africa, and is usually found along mud flats and on the banks of 

 rivers and water holes, more rarely on the seashore ; it is usually 

 solitary or in pairs, sometimes in small parties, but each bird keeps, 

 as a rule, to its respective area and if disturbed returns soon after- 

 wards to the same place. It runs with great swiftness and has a 

 jerky flight, seldom far prolonged; it feeds on minute Crustacea, 

 shell-fish and insects, which it obtains on the muddy beaches, and 

 its note, a sharp squeak, is often heard at night. 



This Sand Plover is in the interior in constant attendance on the 

 Hippopotamus, probably in order to feed on insects which are 

 attracted towards him ; it has, in consequence, obtained its name 

 often bestowed on it of " Sea-cow Bird." 



24 VOL. IV. 



