E-Birds Water-Fowl South Africa J Major Boyd Qj'horsbrugh

GAME - BIRDS WATER - FOWL

OF SOUTH AFRICA

E - BIRDS WATER - FOWL

SOUTH AFRICA

J J' M AJ OR BOYD Q HORSBRUGH

’ ’ M E M B E R O F THE B R ITIS H OR NITH OL OG I STS U NI ON AN D S OUTH AFR IC AN O R NITH O L OG ISTS UN ION ; FE LL OW O F T H E Z OOL OG IC AL S O C IE TY O F L ON D ON

W I T H C O L O U R E D PL A TE S

B S E R G E AN . V I C G . D A E S Ca e M o un Ri e n y T ( p ted ﬂ me ) ,

P RE F A C E .

IN THIS volume I have endeavoured to give descriptions of the — Game - Birds and Water - Fowl found within South African limits that is to s a so of a ine a n ou the a esi i e o eas y , uth l dr w thr gh Z mb R v r fr m t

e to w st .

I trust that in all cases the illustrations will be sufﬁcient to enable

i en i an a e - i h e a s oo th e sportsman readily to d t fy y G m B rd m y h t . It

s be emem e e o e e a i ma e i s o en diﬂ er e mu t r b r d , h w v r , th t m tur b rd ft v ry much from those in adult plumage I regret it w as not possible to

e ﬁgure th e birds in every stag .

i e a to the a i s of an s ecies am ea in e e W th r g rd h b t m y p , I gr tly d bt d

' Da ies a e Mo n e Riﬂemen ose ex e l en to e . O. . S rg G v , C p u t d , wh c l t

- e e to e All no e in ﬁeld w ork h as been of the great st h lp m . t s referr g to Pondoland and Griqualand have b een communicated to me

nnin Di e o of the a ar o to r . . . M n s e a s due D . y th k l J W B Gu g , r ct r

Périn ue Di ec o f t ans aa M se m P e o ria and to Mr . o he Tr v l u u , r t , g y , r t r

a e own M se m for the oan of an s ins o e wise a mos C p T u u , l m y k th r l t

no aina e w ic e e se e ean Da ies to i s a e the u bt bl , h h w r u d by S rg t v llu tr t

or w k .

Muc h val uable information h as been o btained from the pages of

’ ’ the J ournal o the S outh A riccm rnitholo ists Um on ose ene e i f f O g , wh rg t c

H aa ner h as one so c to e h di o Mr . . m t e s E t r ( . A K g ) d u h furth r tudy

i a o f ornithology in South Afr c .

Wi o ei ea assis an e so wi in i en the a o of th ut th r r dy t c , ll gly g v , l b ur

in in out is o o a e een mo e an o br g g th w rk w uld h v b r th d ubled . PREFACE .

For the facts regardin g general distribution of the birds and the co ou and imensions of eir e s am in mos ases in e e to l r d th gg , I t c d bt d

’ Mr a e s a a e o on the F auna o S outh A rica . W . L . Scl t r v lu bl w rk f f , but a certain amount of inform ation w as als o obtained from Layard and

’ a e s Birds S th A im Sh rp of ou h .

To - an m an s are a s o due for no es on Mr . . i vie . W R Og l Gr t y th k l t

a io i n oo in o e o e of m oo s s e es and for i s s . v r u p c , k dly l k g v r m y pr f

ex ess m an s to Mr F . Witherb I s hould also like to pr y th k . H . y

s i an ion for hi prac t cal help on m y o ccas s .

B . R . H . T C O N EN T S .

Kori Bustard (Otis kori) ’ Ludwig s Paauw (Otis ludwigi) Stanley Bus tard or Veldt Paauw (Otis cafm) Blue Knorhaan (Otis coerulescens)

’ Barrow s Knorhaan (Otis barrovii) Vaal Kn orhaan (Otis vigorai) Black -bellied Knorhaan (Otis melanogaster) Red -crested Knorhaan (Otis ruﬁcrista ) Black Knorhaan (Otis afra) White- quill ed Knorhaan (Otis af roides ) Dikkop or Cape Thicknee (Oedicnemus capensis) Water Dikkop (Oedicnemus vermicula tus ) Great Snipe (Gallinago medi a) Ethiopian Snipe (Gallinago nigripennis ) Painted Snipe (Rostratula capensis) Shwimpi or Co qui Francolin (Francolinus coqui) Crested Francolin (F rancolinus sephaena) ’ Kirk s Francolin (F rancolinus kirki) Grey-wing Francolin or Cape Partridge (F rancolinus af ricanus) Cape Red -win ged Francolin (Francolinus levaillanti) Orange River Francolin (F rancolinus gariepens is)

’ Biittik ofer s Francolin (Francolinus jugularis ) ’ Shelley s Francolin (Francolinus shelleyi) Red - billed Francolin (Francolinus adspersus ) Natal Francolin (Francolinus nata lensis) Cape Francolin or Cape Pheasant (Francolinus capensis )

’ Humboldt s Francolin (Pternistes humboldti) Southern R ed - necked Francolin (Pternis tes nudicollis ) Northern R ed -necked Francolin (Pternistes nudicollis casta neiventer)

’ Swainson s Francolin (Pternistes swainsoni) Harlequin Quail (Coturnix delagorguei) Cape Quail (C oturnix capensis ) CONTENTS .

Blue Quail (Excalfactoria adansoni) Kurrichane Button - Q uail (Turnix lepurana ) Natal Button- Quail (Turnix nana) Hottentot Button - Quail ( Turnix hottento tta) Co mmon Guinea- Fo w l (Numida coronata ) East African Guinea -F0 W] (Numida mitrata ) Damaraland Guinea -Fowl (Numida papillosa) Cres ted Guinea-Fow l (Guttera edouardi) Yellow -throated Sandgrouse (Pterocles gutturalis) Spotted Sandgro use (Pterocles variegatus ) Double-banded Sandgrouse (Pterocles bicinctus ) Namaqua Sandgrouse (Pteroclurus namaqua ) Speckled Pigeon (C olumba phaeonota ) Olive-Pigeon (Columba argua trix) ’ Delalande s Green Pigeon ( Vinayo dela la ndii) Spur -w inged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis ) Black Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus niger) Knob - billed Duck (S arcidiornis melanonota ) Dw arf Goose (Natoms a uritas ) White-faced Tree-Duck (Dendrocygna vidua ta ) Whis tling Tree-Duck (Dendrocygna f ulva ) Egyptian Go ose (Alopochen aegyptiacus ) South African Sheld -Drake (Casarca cana ) Yellow -billed Duck or Geelbec (Anas undulata ) Black Duck (Anas sparsa ) Cape Teal (Nettion capense) Hottentot Teal (Nettion punctatum) Red - billed Pintail or Red - bill (Paecilonetta erythrorhyncha ) European Shoveler (S patula clypea ta ) Cape Shoveler (Spatula capensis ) South African Pochard (Nyroca erythrophtha lma ) White-bac ked Duck (Thalassornis leuconota ) Macco a Duck (Erismatura maccoa) Hadada Ibis (Hagedashia hagedash) Index LIST OF PLATES .

Kori Bustard o r Go m Paauw (Otis kori) ’ Ludwig s Bustard (Otis ludwigi) Stanley Bus tard or Veldt Paauw (Otis caf ra ) Blue Kno rhaan (Otis coerules cens )

’ Barrow s Knorhaan (Otis barrovii) Vaal Kn orhaan (Otis vigorsi) Black-bellied Knorhaan (Otis melanogaster) Red -crested Knorhaan (Otis ruﬁcrista ) Black Knorhaan (Otis af ra ) White-quilled Knorhaan (Otis afraides ) Dikkop (Oedicnemus capensis ) Water Dikkop (Oedicnemus vermiculatus ) Great Snipe (Gallinago media) Ethiopian Snipe ( Gallina go nigripennis ) Painted Snipe (Rostratula capensis ) Co qui Francolin or Shwimpi (Francolinus coqui) Crested Francolin (Francolinus sephaena ) ’ Kirk s Francolin (Francolinus kirki) Grey-wing Francolin (Francolinus af ricanus ) Cape Red -w inged Francolin (Francolinus levaitlanti) Orange River Francolin (Francolinus gariepensis )

’ Biittik o fer s Francolin (Francolinus jugularis ) ' Shelley s Francolin (Francolinus shelleyi) Red -billed Francolin (Francolinus adspersus ) Natal Francolin (Francolinus natalensis ) Cape Francolin or Cape Pheasant (Francolinus capens is ) ' Humboldt s Francolin (Pternistes humboldti) Southern R ed -necked Francolin (Pternis tes nudicollis ) No rthern R ed -necked Francolin (Pternistes nudicollis ca staneiventer) ' Sw ainson s Francolin (Pternistes swainsoni) Harlequin Quail (Coturnix delagorguci) Cape Quail (Coturnix capensis) LIST OF PLATES

Blue Quail (Excalfactoria adansoni) Kurrichane Button - Quail (Turnix lepumna ) Natal Button- Quail (Turnix nana ) Hottentot Button - Quail ( Turnix hottentotta) Common Guinea-Fowl (Numicla coronata ) East African Guinea-Fow l (Numida mitrata) Damaraland Guinea-Fo wl (Numida papillosa) Crested Guinea-Fowl (Guttera edouardi) Yellow -throated Sandgrous e (Pterocles gutturalis ) Spotted Sandgrouse (Pterocles variegatus ) Double-banded Sandgrouse (Pterocles bicinctus ) Namaqua Sandgrouse (Pteroclurus namaqua ) Speckled Pigeon or Bush-Dove (Columba phaeonota ) Olive Pigeon (Columba arguatrix)

’ Delalande s Green Pigeon ( Vinago delalandi i ) Spur -Winged Goose (Plectropte'rus gambensis ) Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis ) Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambens is ) Black Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus niger) Knob -bill ed Duck (S arcidiornis melanonota ) Dw arf Goose (Nettopus auritas ) White-faced Tree - Duck (Dendrocygna vidua ta ) Whistling Tree-Duck (Dendrocygna f ulua) Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus ) South African Sheld -Drake (Casarca cam ) Yellow -billed Duck or Geelbec (Anas undulata ) Black Duck ( Anas sparsa ) Cape Teal (Nettion capens e) Hottentot Teal (Nettion punctatum) Red -bill ed Pintail or R ed - bill (Paecilonetta erg/throrhyncha) European Sho veler (S patula clypeata ) Cape Shoveler (Spatula capensis ) South African Pochard (Nyroca erythrophtha lma ) White - backed Duck ( Thalassornis leuconota ) Maccoa Duck (Erisma tura ma coca) Hadada Ibis (Hagedashia hagedash)

T H E

GAM E - B I R D S AND W ATE R - F OW L

O F S OUTH AF R I CA .

OTIs KORI .

KORI BUSTARD .

(PLATE

’ 393 - 492 1 822 a e s ed a Af r . . Otis kori e . . , Burch ll , Tr v S , I , pp ( ) Sh rp , f Afr 632 1 8 5 - 84 Ni o s in on a a i s o . . . 7 L y rd B rd S , p ( ) c ll Egl gt , 1 2 1892 ei enow V O el i as Af . 1 o s an in . r . Sp rt m S , p ( ) R ch , g Afr k ,

- 242 1 900 01 a e Ann . . . Mus III . 357 1905 I , p . ( ) Scl t r , S Afr , , p ( ) Af I v 08 a e a i s . r . . 3 Scl t r St rk , B rd S , , p

E u odotis hori a e Cat i s i . Mus I . 324 p , Sh rp , B rd Br t , XXI I , p

oo a Na a i s . 178 W dw rd , t l B rd , p

- i Pea o e a se i i Paa . e . t s AL AM E . Gom LOC N S uw ( Gum c ck , b c u said to feed on gum found on mimosa trees ) ; Isemi of a o of e anas r e l Kafﬁrs gener lly ; K ri B chu (Bu ch l ) .

i an o f a a f a ma 56 n . d e e 44 in DE CRI P N . en o e e S TIO L gth l f m l . Th y i n o o 1 he ea ie a e een s o e i t 5 b . t s a e h v b h t w gh g up , but h v t I h v i 1b a w as a i d he e . e e e e w as 35 . n The sexes v r w gh d , hug b rd are a i e ex e a e e is an eno o s is e anc in si e l k , c pt th t th r rm u d cr p y z i i a a e e w een e The e s e . b t th m . b rd ﬁgur d f m l

ene al dis i e all o e o DISTRIBUTION . G r ly tr but d v r S uth Africa in i a o ali i i essen ia l a i of s e es . s the i e u t bl l c t It t l y b rd w d , a i an see f ar in e e i i o en s e e t c e on . p ﬂ t , wh r v ry d r ct Its an e ex en s as f ar as o e n n o a on the es and r g t d S uth r A g l w t, it is a so o n in en a A ica and as ica as far n l f u d C tr l fr , E t Afr orth as o a i an S m l l d . is mi a o and c o e len i in so e ea s a It gr t ry , mu h m r p t ful m y r th n in o thers . On the e e of the a a a i Dese es of i is dg K l h r rt w t Vryburg , t on at the e innin of the in e Ma an comm b g g w t r ( y d June) .

TH E - P Gom aauw is not rare in suitable localities , and is generally to be found stalking about on Open plains dotted

l GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA w ith mimosa trees . It is to my mind the ﬁnest of all game birds, and it takes a great deal of hard work and accurate shooting to bring one to bag.

The best way to circumvent this wily bird, is for two people to ride about together until a Paauw is seen ; the sportsmen should then ride , not directly at him , but so as 200 to pass about yards to one side, gradually edging in . A good deal of judgment must be used in executing this manoeuvre . If the bird should stop , the riders must edge i away until he regains conﬁdence , and the pon es must be

all kept walking gently on the time and must not be halted .

Then, when you have approached as near as you dare , drop Off behind a convenient bush while your companion leads P i your pony on let him get well away , as the aauw w ll watch him and the ponies carefully all the time . By making use of cover you may creep within range and with a telescope ’ sight on a small- bore riﬂe you may score a bull s - eye ; but as you are sure to have your eyes blinded with perspiration

l . and your knees ful of sharp thorns , you probably will not

I have tried driving this bird , but it is so tall and so nl wary , and has such magniﬁcent eyesight , that I o y suc

ceeded in 32 1b . once this , when I shot a bird weighing , wi and , from the crack th which it hit the ground , it sounded like 32 stone .

- It is delicious eating, but requires to be well hung . It has a tremendous gape a tame bird that was owned by a friend of mine in Potchefstroom could easily swallo w

- whole an Army ration biscuit , and was always quite ready x to do so . This bird was e ceedingly savage, and one day

- fell upon a tame Secretary Bird that shared his enclosure, and killed it with a few tremendous drives of his bayonet like beak , in spite of the vigorous kicks of his opponent .

I OTIS LUDW GI .

’ LUDWIG S PAAUW.

(PLATE

ll n k enb . . 223 a Oti lud i i i R u e Mus . e c b s w S t . g , pp , , II , p , ’ i of a e s ed . a a s . . . 636 854 1 875 Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , pp , ( i o l lin n o an in Af 4 N s o s S . r . 1 . 1 c l Eg gt , Sp rt m , p i no O el f ik as 246 1900 a n e V . e An . R che w, g A r , I , p ( Scl t r , 35 1 05 a e a of Af Mus . I II r . . 7 9 i s . . S . , , p ( ) Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr , 298 IV . , p

i i 4 i l i a e a . s u 29 1 8 Neot s udw i C t . M s III 9 9 g , Sh rp , B rd Br t , XX , p . ( ) a a i 5 oo Na s . 1 7 W dw rd , t l B rd , p

f a a s o a AL AM E se o N . LOC N . I me t l Zulu (W odw rd)

DE CR IP I N The i e is an a l ale en a S T O . b rd ﬁgur d du t m ; l gth bout 39 in The e a e is simi a c s al e and has no . f m l l r , but mu h m l r , i e i i a a and th e o n o n the e e and on th e wh t occ p t l p tch , br w r u d y es i nsi a o e and e e wi hi e An ch t s co der bly m ttl d fr ckl d th w t . in a e ei e lb dividu l Shot by Butl r w gh d 7% .

’ DI RIBU i s Paa is ene a l dis i e e a ST TION . Ludw g uw g r l y tr but d ov r C p e o on the an i e o on so e n rans aa and C l y , Or ge R v r C l y , uth r T v l e Na a e e see s to be n e ain as to its upp r t l , but th r m much u c rt ty exa an e as it is s a l on se i Otis ca ra the anl ct r g , u u l y c fu d w th f ( St ey a r aa Bust rd o Veld P uw) . i e the o e bi s a s tis ludw i i is a a ia mi an L k th r g Bu t rd , O g p rt l gr t, and usually visits the south - western districts and th e ﬂats near a e o n in th e on s of N e e De e e and C p T w dur g m th ov mb r , c mb r , an a on and a e seen it nea oe on ein in J u ry ly , I h v r Bl mf t the on s of s and th e e innin of e e e m th July , Augu t b g g S pt mb r . a e s o it on th e enia a s in i is as i a e I h v h t K ﬂ t Br t h E t Afr c , wh re i i a t s by no me ns uncommon .

nl AC C OR D IN G to Mr. Wood this is the o y Bustard which L visits East ondon, and he states that it does not come every year . n W i the rb im G Da es y Co p.

LU IG ’ S B U S TAR O TIS LUDWIGI M l DW D ( ) a e .

GAM E BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

’ Ludwig s Paauw feed in the early morning and late evening on locusts, beetles , mice , lizards, and any living food . I have O ften been told that they lived on grain such as

f - mealies or Kaf ir corn, but although I have offered grain to most species of tame Bustard and have ex amined the Th ev crops of many , I have never found grain in them . will occasionally eat clover and young soft weeds and grass , and I do not think they would refuse the eggs Of any small

- ground breeding bird .

In East Africa the males Show- Off at about ten ’ O in ni clock the mor ng or a little before, and sometimes about sunrise . Occasionally in the sunshine a bird would be seen in the distance revolving slowly round and round ,

- his big , white neck glistening and his tail feathers and wing i coverts stuck up like a frill round him , wh le he accompanied

- this performance with his deep humming love note . The hen bird in the meantime would stalk aimlessly about and apparently pay not the least attention to him .

L - P ike all big game birds , aauw ﬂy fast , although they appear to go slowly . They rarely give a chance to the shot gun, and are generally killed with the riﬂe , and as they are l usual y in grass long enough to conceal their bodies , they O do not ften present an easy target . Two of these birds are now living in the Zoological ’ ’ Society s Gardens at Regent s Park . Should a young bird be captured alive the best food for l it would be locusts , grasshoppers , etc . , unti it could be got to eat cooked meat, porridge or any cereal , or boiled potatoes . It must be remembered that a captive bird likes plenty of choice in its food , and it must not be forgotten that the bones of all the Bustards are very brittle, so that these

5 GAM E - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA birds are not capable of withstanding the least approach to dl rough han ing .

3 in. The eggs measure nearly by about , and are pale Olive- green faintly streaked with purplish and yellowish brown .

Wi l he rb Q 0 . D . C . G . avies del y i m p

S TAN L EY B U S T AR D o r V E LDT PAAU W (OTIS CAFRA) M a le

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA It is said that they can at times be approached by the

l - w we l kno n plan of riding round them , although my

. h ad informant , Sergt Davies, has little luck in obtaining

. hi them either by this or any other method A friend of s , who has shot a good many, states that the largest he il i k l ed was a cock weigh ng 1 7% lb . two days after being

. Lu k P shot A larger one killed near sikisi i, ondoland,

25 1b . weighed , and was very fat . l I be ieve these birds feed mostly at night, or late in the evening and early in the morning ; during the heat of the day they lie up in long grass . They feed on lizards, locusts ,

- ﬁeld . beetles, mice, and so forth

Mr. Sclater states that they are rather silent birds, but sometimes make a low, melodious , humming noise in the

il - morning and evening, wh e during the breeding season the

- cock gives vent to a loud , far resounding boom , something like that Of a Bittern ; at this period also the co ok s display x themselves before the females, e panding their throats enormously and turning their feathers back ; they then strut about and utter their booming noise .

Mr. Sclater further writes that Ayres found the eggs generally at the top of a hil l and laid in a bare depression

Of scratched out the earth, though sometimes a wisp of grass was added . The eggs are two in number and resemble those of l dwi i M O. u g ; those in the South African useum are oval and pale brown, washed , rather than blotched, with a slightly darker shade of the same colour ; they measure by The birds I shot in South Africa were particularly good r eating , but the same species in B itish East Africa was coarse and tough, with a slight, but unpleasant , ﬂavour .

W ith e rby Co . imp .

l B L U E KNO R H AAN (O TIS CAER ULESCENS) M a e . OTIS COERULESCENS .

BLUE KNORHAAN .

(PLATE

’ 4 a d i Me . . 33 e s e . Otis coerulescens ei lo Enc . , V l t , th , I , p Sh rp a a i f 8 1 8 5- 84 Ni o s in on Af r . . 63 s O . 7 L y rd B rd S , p ( ) c ll Egl gt , 2 i l i as in . 1 1 8 89 e eno O e o s an . . 1 V Sp rt m S Afr , p ( ) R ch w, g Afr k ,

2 - a Af u 5 1 05 Ann . r . M s I II . 9 5 1 1900 01 c e . 3 7 I , p . ( ) S l t r , S , , p ( ) i f 05 a e a s o . . . 3 Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr , IV , p i 08 h n a at . a i Mus II I . 3 T r c elotis coerules ce s e C . s , Sh rp , B rd Br t , XX , p a a a i 1 7 oo N s . 7 W dw rd , t l B rd , p

AL AM E aa w - Ko no aan Dik - Ko n o aan LO C N S . Bl u p K rh p K rh i o n o aa i . ono n e Kor n . e . s (pr u c d , c ld g c ck)

RI P N The i u e is an a a e en a o 23 in . DE SC TIO . b rd ﬁg r d dult m l l gth b ut Th e e a e is sli s al e an the a e i she c ose f m l ghtly m l r th m l , wh ch l ly esem es but h as the ear- o e s si es of the ace and e e o r bl , c v rt , d f y br ws t i i o a e o s and h e o n s s s e wi san . p l ruf u , cr w l ghtly p tt d th dy

The no aan is oun in a e o on the D STR BU N . e I I TIO Blu K rh f d C p C l y , e a of Na a the an e i e o on and upp r p rt t l , Or g R v r C l y , the so e n an aa uth r Tr sv l .

BLU E Knorhaan as a rule are found in covevs of four or

ﬁve on wide sandy plains , and do not seem to care for the heavier grass to which their near relatives the White

ll Knorh a roides . qui ed aans ( O. f ) are so partial l 1905 In Apri , , I was lucky enough to obtain , in the market at Bloemfontein , a pair of the Blue Knorhaan . Neither before nor since have I seen these birds for sale alive, nor have I seen any in captivity, so I conclude that it was an exceptionally lucky chance that brought this latter

six pair into my keeping . They were then perhaps weeks

9 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

- old, in very rough plumage, and about the size of Red legged P nl Of artridges , o y course longer in the leg . From the moment that I took them out of the little crate in which they had been brought to market , they proved x i l themselves to be most e traord narily tame, fo lowing my w wife and me about the garden from the very ﬁrst, ith a loud querulous cry like that of a young kitten . From the ﬁrst they fed better from the hand than in any other way . Their appetite was delicate, and I am con vinced that if they had not constantly been coaxed into accepting their food they would not have lived many months . The blue colour on both Of these birds was very pale at this time , and their legs were of a greyish colour ; the female was slightly smaller than the male, and her face and w eyebrows were distinctly bro ner than those of her mate . It was quite evident that they had been reared by some woman on a farm , and they had rather a fascinating trick of sitting down on the edge of a Skirt whenever they got

. Of the chance The hen was particularly fond doing this, and always crooned a little song to herself when she was ni comfortably settled . They loved sharpe ng their beaks on ’ one s boots , and Visitors had always to be warned not to ’ tread on them , as they were always at one s feet, investigating

- boot laces . i We bu lt a large run for them , with a nice house in the ni middle . This latter they inhabited at ght, and it was Kaffir r no easy matter for the to d ive them in every evening . him i They defied , and mocked him in every way, spread ng their wings and skipping about on their agile little legs until — the distracted Kaflir who was not allowed to touch them had very often to call for assistance .

10 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA When they were let out of their run into the garden which only occurred when there was someone by them to — be on the look- out for strange dogs a favourite trick of theirs was to make a dash for the nearest ﬂat stone bordering the ﬂower beds and to wait beside it, stamping impatiently until it was turned over, when there was a rush

r for any grubs , beetles or stone cock oaches that lay beneath — it ; then Off to the next stone over with that and down with a delectable little scorpion %

When the garden was still in the process of making , these two were a serious impediment to the gardener . They thought he was employed to turn over stones for their special nf i k beneﬁt, and the u ortunate man could scarcely get his p c under a stone before their eager little beaks were under it too .

Mr . Sclater states that it is rather a scarce bird , but although I have never seen many at a time I fancy it is pretty widely distributed over the Orange River Colony . On the majority of mornings when out on shooting trips the ﬁrst sound to reach rny ears was the clear ringing cry of Knock

------me down, Knock me down , me down me down that the cock bird gives vent to at dawn .

I have seen dead birds for sale at the game - market in

Bloemfontein in some numbers . They have generally been ’ r Millais s ill . k ed with a bullet , and this hardly bears out M

ot experience that the bird is tame and unsuspicious . N ’ Millai x Mr. s s that I would doubt e perience of them , but — I found them in the Orange River Colony at any rate

O extremely wild and very well able to take care f themselves .

You may see them and try to stalk them , but at two ff hundred yards the slim , graceful , blue neck sti ens , the

h - - O banded c estnut and white wings pen , and with a mocking

1 1 GAME -BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

- - Off i . shout of Knock me down , he is for ten m les or more

Ma 1 5 his In y, 90 , the cock of my pair started wild call note , to which he always treated us when ﬁrst let out of x l his house in the morning . He was an e cel ent indicator of

Kaﬂirs early or late rising on the part of the , whose ﬁrst i duty it was to let the Knorhaan out into the r run . In December of the same year both my birds had got their plumage in the most beautiful order and were masters

Of i. e . the companions we had added to their run , some

nl - i l Sta ey Cranes and Spur w nged and Egyptian Geese , whi e a Buff - backed Heron that was ﬂying at hack around the garden was always a great source of distraction to them , O L their bject being to keep him on the wing . ike most bullies they were cowards at heart, and a hen with chickens Off sent them shouting in very quick time . It was always an amusement to us to drive them across the garden to the pigeon - house and then to drive the pigeons

Of i r out it and straight at them . This nva iably caused consternation mingled with horror . The little pair would stand rooted to the ground with wide- Open beaks and out

s — spread wing the hen would utter a loud squawk , the cock ” - - — would hoarsely shout his Knock me down , and then ul l n they wo d turn tai and run, with that minci g , pattering , and amazingly swift gait of theirs . 1906 In January , , when the birds were just under a year l old, I observed that their legs were changing to a ye lowish colour , and I have no doubt that these birds take at least ull two years to become f y adult .

w as In February , I regret to say that the hen bird ’ murdered in the garden by a neighbour s dog . We rescued ul her just alive , poor thing, and sewed up the dreadf wound

1 2

II OTIS BARROV .

’ BARROW S KNORHAAN . (PLATE

ti arr vi n i s 04 b o i . a in if An Ki d III . 3 s s . . O , J E . Gr y Gr ﬁth g B rd , , p 1 829 ei eno O el i as 250 1900- 01 c a e V . ( ) R ch w, g Afr k , I , p ( ) S l t r , i f Ann . Mus I II 356 a e a s o S . Afr . , , p . Scl t r St rk , B rd

. . I V 30 . 7 S Afr , , p

’ tis ene a i a a a i f 63 1 8 5 - 84 s lens s e s ed s O . 9 7 O g , Sh rp . L y rd B rd S . Afr . , p ( ) i o l n in 1 9 N s i on s an Af r . 1 c l Egl gt , Sport m S . , p .

Trachelotis barr a at i I I . 31 1 . Mus owii e C . s i , Sh rp , B rd Br t , XX I , p ( 1 894)

R i an a a and a e DE SC I PTION . The b rds ﬁgured are dult m le fem l ; en a 2 i l gth bout 1 n .

D R BU a met wi is a nea Po e s oo ON . s IST I TI I h ve th th Bu t rd r tch f tr m , ans aa and am inc ine to in it is o one an is Tr v l , l d th k c mm r th ene a o i on i a a g r lly supp sed it s quite comm n upper N t l .

’ To the casual O bserver and sportsman Barrow s Knorhaan and Otis coerulescens are generally classed together as Blue

Knorhaan and doubtless many are thus overlooked . Once , P near otchefstroom , I stopped a Boer who was shooting game for the Johannesburg market and looked through the birds on his waggon . He had eleven of this species and told me he got a good many every week and that they were always sold as Blue Knorhaan . Those I shot acted and called in a manner exactly like the Blue Knorhaan . Apparently this species is as easy to tame as the Blue l Knorhaan , as I saw a delightful y friendly old male in the P retoria Zoological Gardens some years ago .

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

”

They feed chieﬂy on insects , such as beetles, locusts and white ants ( termites) . x I have not found them as wild as Blue Knorhaan , e cept “ or S when feeding on burnt lands very hort grass , and _

' then all Knorhaan are wild . Butler states that he found these birds wild and difﬁcult to approach , and that when

- a- ﬂushed they uttered a note like Kuk p wow, repeating the cry several times as they ﬂew away .

Ayres states that this species lays two eggs , hidden in the grass in open country, that they vary considerably

colour and markings .

15 I R I OTIS V GO S . V AAL KNORHAAN .

(PL ATE

ti vi 0 . s orsii P o . , i , oo . Soc . 1 83 , 1 1 ei eno Vo e O g Sm th r c Z l , p R ch w, g l

f i - a as I . 248 1 00 01 9 e Ann . . . Mus . II I 35 A r k , , p ( ) Scl t r , S Afr , , p . 7 1 905 a a i f . I 2 6 e s o . V . 9 ( ) Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr , , p

’ Otis scolo a ea a a a i o f Af r - c e s d . s 637 1 8 5 e . . . 84 p , Sh rp L y rd B rd S , p ( 7 ) i in o a i 1 N o s on s n n . . 1 c ll Egl gt , Sp rt m S Afr , p . 7

Heterotetrax vi orsi a at i s i M e C . . us III 296 1 8 4 g , Sh rp , B rd Br t , XX , p . ( 9 ) a i oo Na a s . 1 75 W dw rd , t l B rd , p

CAL NAM E ik - Ko no aan of the D a . D s a ie LO p K rh utch , l o ppl d ’ to the and a s Kn o aan Blue B rrow rh .

DE CRIP N Th e i e is a a e . o nsi S TIO . b rd ﬁgur d m l Alth ugh I co der the a e a e oo one in it is a os i ossi e to on e pl t v ry g d , I th k lm t mp bl c v y in a picture any idea o f the beautiful pink bloom that colours his i in i nf o na e in the ie s n t b rd l fe . U rtu t ly dr d ki s the colour i a e en a o 24 in s . qu ckly f d L gth b ut .

R The aa no aan is o n in ollin a DI T IBUT ON . en r ss S I V l K rh f u d op , r g g e in the a e o on in e Na a in the an i e v ldt C p C l y , upp r t l , Or ge R v r o on and in e ain a s of the ans aa C l y , c rt p rt Tr v l .

a o n in a d a o n a o I have kiHed it ne r Bl emfo te n ls e r Potchefstro m . i n i ana an Mr en t ex e s n e . o in to . Acc rd g Bryd , t d to B chu l d

VAAL Knorhaan are , I think, the noisiest of a very noisy i nh fam ly . It is impossible to stav in a district i abited by

i them , and fail to be aware of the r presence the tremendous

- - - how l Crack crack , crack crack ka added to other start ing l to nasal noises, Soon cal the attention of the sportsman l them . I have usua ly found Vaal Knorhaan in coveys up x to ﬁve or si in number . They seem to prefer the drier ,

OTIS MELANOGASTER .

- BLACK BELLIED KNORHAAN.

(PLATE

Otis melano a ter R u ell 240 s b II . Mus . en k en S c . g , pp , , , p ’ a e e a i 8 s d . a f 64 1 854 1 5 s O . 7 Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr . , pp . , ( Ni o s lin n a 1 1 5 o o s n in Af r . c ll Eg gt , Sp rt m S . . , p i en O el la e o V f i a 256 1 00 e Ann . s . 9 R ch w, g A r k , I , p ( Sc t r , Af 1 Af r . . r . us II I i s Of . M . 3 57 905 a e a S , , p ( ) Scl t r St rk , B rd S , x v 303 , p .

Li ti m lan aster a a 1 8 4 sso s e t . i s i I . 806 9 o e C . Mus . g , Sh rp , B rd Br t , XX II , p ( ) oo a a a i 1 N s . 1 7 W dw rd , t l B rd , p

E R N in C l a a a a 20 . D IPT . e nd e e as in r en o S IO Adu tm l f m l ﬁgu e . L gth b ut

D R U a a IST IB TION . This bir d is widely distribute d o ver the gre ter p rt of Af ic a o am ia in th e es and ssini a and th e i e r , fr m G b w t Aby Wh t Ni e in th e eas so a s hr o an as f i a and l t, uthw rd t ugh Germ E t A r c asaland to the a e i Ny Z mb s . In o rica it h as een on e e o e o a e o on S uth Af b c r c rd d fr m C p C l y , and is not n o on in Na a u an and Mas ona an b ut u c mm t l , Z lul d , h l d , does not app arently extend to the high plateau Of the Orange i e o on and the an a R v r C l y Tr sva l . I have not myself seen th e Black - bellied Knorhaan in S outh i a in as i a it is no eans a e Afr c , but E t Afr c by m r r .

I HAVE always found these birds singularly stupid and eas y to

i l O k l , even in the most pen country , so long as you do not

walk straight at them . I have never seen more than a pair Af together . In East rica they frequent open downs and

mirnos a ﬂats as well as country that is dotted with thorns , and

u i - are q ite the most del cious of all the game birds found there .

i : i Sergt . C . G . Dav es writes me Th s is the only in P Knorhaan found ondoland, where it was not uncommon

dl s some years ago , but it is rapi y decrea ing in numbers,

1 8

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA owing to being continually persecuted both by natives and

ow n . by whites , and to its stupidity

I have always found it a remarkably stupid bird , and have know n one to stand calmly looking at me within 20 yards while I hunted wildly through my pockets and i haversack for a suitable cartr dge . Its favourite method of escape is to lie motionless in the long grass with outstretched neck ; it is then very ll difﬁcult to see , and it wi let you pass quite close without

. S moving It rises lowly , and being a soft feathered bird i i s eas ly killed .

It feeds on locusts , beetles , berries , etc . , and in winter ” x gets e traordinarily fat . i Sergt . Dav es writes me further to say I would draw your attention to the long legs and proportionately long neck in this species , which at once distinguish it from all other South African Bustards . I have not seen this pointed out in any book . This is so noticeable in the live birds that they have Often appeared to me to resemble tiny Ostriches .

Mr . I bis 1902 Otis lovati Grant, in the , , in describing ,

Of Otis lova ti ﬁgures the wings both this species and , and x ul also both se es of the latter . I sho d like to remark that all the adult males of Otis melanoga ster I have seen have

’

Mr . much more white on the wings than in Grant s ﬁgure ,

Otis lova ti w and , if the plate of is correctly dra n, that species

Otis melano aster S S differs from g in hape, being much horter ” on the leg and with a shorter neck . An egg found by the Woodwards in Natal was laid

- on the bare ground . It was cream coloured , smeared and blotched with dark brown .

19 I RI A OTIS RUF C ST .

- RED CRESTED KNORHAAN .

(PLATE

i Af r I II 63 854 1 8 - 4 Nicolls i ru icrista m oo . . . . 9 75 8 Ot s f , S th , Z l S , , pp , ( ) ﬁ an in 1 8 Af r . 1 ei eno in s . c and on o . Egl gt , Sp rt m S , p R h w, 252 1 0 a i as . 9 0 e Ann . Af r . Mus . V O el r S . g Af k , I , p ( Scl t r, j{ , i of 2 0 357 a e 85 a s . . I V . 9 III , p . Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr , , p ( 1906 )

at i i Mus III 29 1 h ti ru crista a e C . s . . Lop o s ﬁ Sh rp , B rd Br t , XX , p

AM E s no aan in e ana an LOCAL N . Bu h K rh B chu l d .

The i s e are an a a a a E CRIP N . nd e e is D S TIO b rd ﬁgur d dult m le f m l . Th a a 20 in species me sures b out .

’ In life the b ases of this bird s body - feathers are suffused with in i in e his a es e i a ea a so s e . ft p k h t g , but t f d v ry qu ckly ft r d th

R N ex en s o e ana an no a s o the DI ST IBUTIO . It t d fr m B chu l d rthw rd thr ugh ans aa to en e a in the es and to o esia in the eas Tr v l B gu l w t , Rh d t .

O MO ST Bustards are dwellers in the pen veldt, but the Bush Knorhaan is usuall y found in bush country ; it is partial

O to little , pen glades where it can feed, but it also likes

run r cover into which to if ala med . It ﬂies in very similar fashion to our English Woodco ck

colo oax rusticola n ( S g ) , dodgi g and diving through the trees

i . L at tremendous speed , and giv ng a most sporting shot ike l most Knorhaan it is a soft bird, and fal s to a blow at

- which a Guinea fowl woul d scarcely falter.

GOO- Mr. Sclater says that its note is a melancholy goo, hi but I have never heard it utter any sound . It is c eﬂy

- an insect eater .

OTIS AFRA .

BLACK KNORHAAN .

(PLATE

’ Otis a ra i e n s . Nat . 724 a e s ed a a f , Gm l , Sy t , I , p Sh rp . L y rd

i - s Of . . . 64 1 1 875 84 Nicol s in on o s an B rd S Afr , p ( ) l Egl gt , Sp rt m in Af r 1 . . . 1 5 ei eno V O el a , R , i s . 256 S p ch w g Afr k , I , p 1 900- 0 a 1 c e An n . . Mus . . 35 1 05 a ( ) S l t r , S Afr , III , p 7 ( 9 ) Scl ter and a i f 2 Af r . IV . 2 s o . 9 St rk , B rd S , , p

Com sotis a ra a e at i i Mu C . s . s 29 18 4 XXIH . 3 9 p f , Sh rp , B rd Br t , , p )

OCAL AM E n aan o o nis s a a a f L N S . K orh f the C lo t ; Ik l K lu o the Ama a xos (Stanford) .

E CR P Th i n a a T D N . he e a i S I TIO e b rd ﬁgured is a dult m le . f m le s exa i e the e a e e in the a e of Otis a roides ctly l k f m l ﬁgur d pl t f , but wi o the i a n i a ies en a 2 e c o the . o 1 in th ut wh t p t h pr m r L gth b ut .

DI R BU N The ac no aan is on o n in the a e ST I TIO . Bl k K rh ly f u d C p o on so of he an i e To th e no of th e an e C l y uth t Or ge R v r . rth Or g River it is replaced by its very near relative the White - quill ed no aan i a oes not ex en r e eas a K rh (Ot s iroides ) . It d t d fu th r tw rds than th e division Of Alb any

IN its general habits this bird much resembles the White l quil ed Knorhaan . I have not shot much down country and consequently do not know this Knorhaan well . The cock birds when ﬂushed get up with a great ﬂuster and a startling harsh cry x - l e actly like that of the White quill ed . They then usual y

ﬂy round in large circles and pitch , and if the grass is long

- u Of they can be walked p with the aid a dog , but they rarely rise in the same place in which they pitched , as they nearly always run after settling on bare ground they may sometimes

22 . . . W C G Davies del i the rby 3. Co n uj

B LAC K K NO R HAAN o r/s AFRA M l ( ) a e .

GAME -BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA be seen skulk ing along at great speed with their heads carried low and taking advantage of every atom Of cover . Hen birds are Often difficul t to flush and as a rule lie closely . On l ul rising they on y give a croak, but I consider they sho d x be spared as much as possible , and , as the se es are so ff di erent in colour, it is quite an easy matter to distinguish x between them . Some Knorhaan I e amined had their crops l fi led with tiny grasshoppers , and others with young locusts in the voetganger stage . Their food consists sometimes

Of young succulent leaves , such as clover and trefoils , and Of soft grasses with the addition any insects they can collect , such as white ants (termites) , beetles , etc but although they are often shot in mealie and other grain ﬁelds , I have never heard of grain being found inside them , and I feel sure they are birds of great beneﬁt to the farmer . The cock birds are very fond of getting up on to the

Of - tops the small ant heaps with which the veldt abounds, and they like to use these both as watch - towers and as places on which to sun themselves .

Knorh aari - are sometimes very good eating, but as a rule are rather tough and strong in ﬂavour . They require to l be wel hung and very carefully cooked . The meat is dark and apt to be dry , but it makes a good addition to game

. ul nn stew They sho d always be ski ed before cooking . Eggs sent to me from Cape Colony were indistinguishable

Of O. a raides from those f .

23 OTIS AEROIDES .

- U A WHITE Q ILLED KNORH AN .

(PLATE

’ Otis a raides mi 1 a oo . . 9 e s ed . f , S th , Z l S Afr . , III , p . Sh rp

a a i of 42 8 - 4 i l in s . . . 6 1 75 8 N o s on L y rd B rd S Afr , p ( ) c l Egl gt , o sman in Af r 1 1 1 8 2 i a . ic eno O el . . 7 9 e V s Sp rt S , p ( ) R h w, g Afr k ,

254 1 90 - a . 0 01 1 Ann . . . us 5 905 e M . 3 7 I , p ( ) Scl t r , S Afr , III , p ( ) c a e a i f fr 2 4 s o . A . . 9 S l t r St rk , B rd S , IV , p

Com s ti u tera a e a i i 2 4 o s c c Mus . III . 9 o C t. s . p p , Sh rp , B rd Br t , XX , p

DE CRI P N e n a a a a S TIO . Th ﬁgures represent a dult m le nd fem le ; en a 2 1 in l gth bout .

R BU N The e- il e no aan is the es no n DIST I TIO . Whit qu l d K rh b t k w no aan of the ans aa e ana an th e an e i e K rh Tr v l , B chu l d , Or g R v r Colony as f ar west as Dam araland and th e northern p art of the a o In th e a e o n its ace is a en the a K rro . C p C lo y pl t k by Bl ck no aan a K rh (Otis fra ) .

THI S is the common Knorhaan of the Orange River Colony

and the Transvaal, and from its conspicuous coloration and

noisy habits is one of the best known . They are spoken Of everyw here in the Trans vaal and Orange River Colony as Knorhaan and when other species are meant the preﬁx Blue or Vaal or Bush

is supplied .

Knorhaan like , as a rule , wide , grassy ﬂats , with grass ‘ suﬁiciently long to hide themselves in when their heads

are lowered , but I have shot them among scattered thorn bush at the edge of streams and rivers as well as along the bush patches of the Kalahari .

r . I agree with M . H A . Bryden in thinking that the

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA f A rican birds are not preserved in any way, and the constant

- x drain by the market hunter tends to e termination . The following list may give some idea of the quantity of game which ﬁnds its way into the markets of South Africa : In 1904 Kimberley market alone in the season, head of Of 1 game was disposed , realizing in the 905 season head Of game realized whilst in the 1906 season head realized Some interesting details of the diff erent k inds of game which are included in the head sold in 1906 are given, these were 174 1 4 15 Springbuck , Duiker , ; Steinbok, , ; Hares ,

Knorhaan , Redwing (Francolin) , Guinea

8 18 P 0. ludwi i O . kori 59 fowl , ; aauw (probably g and ), ;

- 130 33 l Wild duck , Geese , ; sma l birds , The item small birds woul d probably include the

l Of - Coqui Francolin, as wel as two species Sand grouse , which

Of x . are , course , e tremely abundant in that neighbourhood On land that has been burnt Knorhaan are always very

- wild , and generally get upon an ant heap to keep a good

- l look out . They then give very good sport with a sma l hi Of bore riﬂe , the w te marks on the wings the cock birds making a clear target against the black background .

I have frequently found the eggs, but invariably by

Off accident . The hen bird slips long before you reach the nest and hides in the long grass .

The nest is merely a slight hollow in the ground, always

ni - in grass , and the two eggs are gree sh brown blotched with darker brown spots . They measure by in .

OEDICNEMUS CAPENSIS .

THI KNEE DIKKOP OR CAPE C .

(PLATE 1

i l e Doub . . 6 ca ensis ic ens e n V rz . 9 Oedicnemus p , L ht t , , p ’ i f 4 1 8 5 i d a a s o . . . 6 5 7 N c o s Sharpe s e . L y rd B rd S Afr , p ( ll in 1 20 a a lin on o sman . . . e nd Eg gt , Sp rt S Afr , p Sh rp , 1 5 oo a a a M . at i s i . us N C . B rd Br t , XXIV , p W dw rd , t l i w l i a 8 1 e c eno V O e s . 1 9 i s . 79 R , , , B rd , p h g Afr k I p

- a Mu 58 1 Af r . s II I . 3 05 c a e 00 01 cl e Ann . . 9 ( 1 9 ) S t r , S , , p ( ) S l t r f 3 1 5 n a i s o . . . a d St rk B rd S Afr , IV , p ” Di o or Thicknee of co onis s In uan olo LOCAL NAM E S . kk p l t q q ” a —a - i a i f f e Am axosa n o o o . e . ow o th e o th (St f rd) Kh b d r , F l

enem of th e as os M a . y , B ut ( urr y)

i e i a a T a a I N The s e . he sexes re i e . DE S CRE T O . b rd ﬁgur d m l l k

~ Length ab out 1 85 in .

N T is s ecies is dis i e all o e o rica o DISTRIBU TIO . h p tr but d v r S uth Af fr m a i a so an es e n i i Cape Town to th e Z mbes . It l r g b yo d our l m ts to Angola on the west and through Nyasaland and E as t Afric a

THE O Dikkop is sometimes found on pen stony country, but I have usually met with it among the scattered acacia bushes which fringe the course of most South African rivers , x l and afford e cel ent cover for many species of birds , both L large and small . ike its near relative the English Thick nee

ita s Oe. cre n ( p ) , it is thoroughly nocturnal , and the curious triple squawking note may often be heard as the bird ﬂies about in the dark , high overhead .

Of As a rule it squats on the approach danger, but it can run at great speed and has a powerful ﬂight . Its dark ﬂesh is exceedingly good - eating and is not so dry as that

27 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

- of most African game birds . I have heard it said that the

and l Dikkop is a foul feeder , certain y it is sometimes found

ill r - in fair numbers near the v age ubbish heaps, but I believe it is attracted there by the ﬂies and beetles, etc . The Dikkop utters a curious shrill trilling note

- - sounding like Tree tree tree rapidly repeated . A tame bird in the Zoological Gardens at Pretoria would always start calling when whistled to , and would at the same time

its l fan out tai , slightly droop its wings , and work itself x into a perfect frenzy of e citement .

The bird lays two eggs in a slight hollow . They are

- pale stony grey , blotched and splashed with deep brown and black . They measure about by in . The young are very pretty little things Of an ash - grey colour with longitudinal black stripes , and as soon as they are hatched they follow the old bird .

GAM E - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA given in the J ournal of the East Africa and Uganda Natural

2 r O M . . History Society, N . by R Van Someren , who hi found it breeding wit n a few feet of the water of a lake , the nest being a small hollow in the sand with practically i no lin ng to it . Two eggs Of this species in the South African Museum

r i were obtained by M . Er ksson on the Cunene River ; they were laid on the bare ground within a couple of feet Of the water . They are somewhat smooth and shiny , with a very

- vil pale sandy brown ground colour, hea y blotched and spotted with a very much darker shade of brown . They are slightly pointed at one end and measure by in .

GALLINAGO MEDIA .

G RE A T S N I P E .

(PLATE

colo ax ma or e in s . Nat . . 66 1 S p j , Gm l , Sy t , I , p

’ a a i 6 1 8 - 84 r d . a s o . . 78 7 5 a llina o ma o e s e f . G g j , Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , p ( ) i Af r 0 8 2 a e in on o sman n . 3 1 9 ico s . . 1 N ll Egl gt , Sp rt S , p ( ) Sh rp , i 626 1896 oo w a a a a i s us . t . . M N C B rd Br t , XXIV , p ( ) W d rd , t l 1 88 i s . B rd , p i i 2 Gallina o media e c enow o e as . 35 1 900 g , R h , V g l Afr k , I , p ( 1 a a Ann . Af r . u s . 36 c e c a e . M S l t r , S , III , p S l t r St rk , 4 1 4 i o f . . s . B rd S Afr , IV , p

o i a ni e Of some a Double or S l t ry S p uthors .

i i a Th e exe a a i e R N The e s a e . s s re . DE SC IPTIO . b rd ﬁgur d m l l k n i are o e o s an th a en a o You g b rds m r ruf u th e dults . L gth b ut

in ei 8 o z . es . 1 1 . W ght (Ayr )

i a ni in N Mr . a e wr es the ea e nes s DISTR IBUTIO . Scl t r t th t Gr t S p t eastern and north - eastern Europe and northern Asia from Germany to the Yenesei i e it is on a cas a visi o to the itis , wh l ly u l t r Br h s an s and a it asses o e o o e and wi n e s in I l d , th t p v r S uth Eur p t r f rica w e e o e e it seems to be on ne to th e eas e n A , h r , h w v r , c ﬁ d t r and so e n o ions O f the con inen and has no t i e o uth r p rt t t , h th rt een e wi in the es e n o i a i i b m t th w t r tr p c l d str cts .

I HAVE seen the Great Snipe during nearly every month P of the year near otchefstroom , Transvaal , but have rarely ’ seen more than one or two birds during a dav s walk . They are found on marshes and Vleis in exactly the ni same localities as the Ethiopian S pe , but they rise in quite ff i a di erent manner . When the Ethiopian Sn pe is ﬂushed it gives vent to the well - known scape of the English i n bird, but the Great Snipe gets up w th a rush, attai ing a

31 GAM E - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA ~

off l terriﬁc speed almost at once , and goes in si ence . Some

l a times they wi l give quick twist or two on rising , more Off l often they go as straight as a quai , but they fly so fast that they are by no means easy to shoot , though a very slight wound suffices to bring one down . hi ll They feed c efly on worms , and doubtless wi eat such beetles and other insects as they may happen to come across .

It is not necessary to describe their eggs , as they are never likely to be found in South Africa .

They are delicious birds to eat .

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA Ethiopian Snipe are much easier to Shoot than English ni off S pe , and they very often rise and ﬂy with a heavy

- ﬂapping ﬂight like a Coot or Water hen . P In one small marsh near otchefstroom , not far from l — my house , I frequently kil ed two couple never more although I made a careful search through the marsh with a keen spaniel . I made a practice of returning the following i week and invariably found that four more b rds had come in . During the breeding season these birds “drum just as the English Snipe do , and may be seen weaving about high in the air , and every now and then rushing downwards , which act is accompanied by the curious Vibrating drumming

Mr. P . . sound . This sound has been cleverly proved by H Bahr to be produced by the vibration Of the web of the outer

- tail feathers as they are rapidly drawn through the air . The proof lay in ﬁxing the two outer tail - feathers Of a Snipe in a large cork and whirling the cork round at the end of a long string ; this action resulted in a sound which exactly

resembled the drumming of a breeding Snipe . Ayres found this bird breeding in the swamps near

P . otchefstroom in August, and on one occasion as late as April

The nests were placed and formed in a tussock of grass , w the centre of which the bird trod well do n , while the outer

blades formed a shelter from the sun and cold winds .

Of ff The eggs are an olive bu colour, spotted and

blotched , chieﬂy at the obtuse end , with two or three shades of dark brown they have a fair amount Of gloss and measure

about by in . These Snipe are very good- eating and taste exactly

like the European bird .

AT A R OSTR UL CAPENSIS .

P A I N T E D S N I P E .

(PLATE

i a 246 S colo ax ca ensis nnae s s . N t. . p p , L u , Sy t , I , p

’ i f 6 8 55 a a a s e a a s o . 79 Rh nch e ca ensis e d . . . y p , Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , pp ,

( 1 8 5 - 84 i ol in n o s an in 1 30 7 N s o . . . ) c l Egl gt , Sp rt m S Afr , p 1 892)

a a i i u 6 83 Rostratula ca ens is e C t . s . M s . p , Sh rp , B rd Br t , p a a i 1 8 c a e Ann oo a N s . 9 . . . W dw rd , t l B rd , p S l t r , S Afr a i of I v 6 1 a e s . . Mus III . 3 , , p Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr , , 4 1 8 1906 p . ( ) i i 2 1900 Rostratula ben alensis e c eno o e as . 37 g . R h w, V g l Afr k , I , p (

E o en ni e of so e a o s a e . LOCAL NAM . G ld S p m uth r (Scl t r)

DE R N The P a e e esen s an a ai —the ema e ein SC IPTIO . l t r pr t dult p r f l b g the i n e e wi the n a en a o b rd o th l ft th chest ut bre st . L gth b ut in 9% .

The Pain e ni e is o n all o e ic a so of D R BU N . IST I TIO t d S p f u d v r Afr , uth a a a i n a a a a i al o d in the nc di M s . s s o n y S h r , lu g d g c r It f u Eg pt , so e n sia inc u in n ia as e as in ina a an the uth r A , l d g I d , w ll Ch , J p , P i i ines o neo and a a and is a a en a esi en h l pp , B r , J v , pp r tly r d t i a throughout ts r nge .

I HAVE shot this lovely little bird near Bloemfontein in the P Orange River Colony , and also near otchefstroom , Trans i vaal . It is a most unsporting l ttle bird and ﬂies very slowly

Of in a straight line , without any of the quick twists the true

Snipe . They always remind me more of Rails than Snipe .

They are nowhere very common , but if a brace or so be shot on any particular marsh their places are generally l b ﬁl ed y others within a week or so .

35 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

Sergt . C . G . Davies , writing from East Griqualand in 19 10 February , , said that the range of this bird seems to be spreading . He stated that when he was stationed in Griqua land ten years previously he never saw or heard of one , but that now the birds were fairly common and that he had shot twelve of them during that year without special search for them .

They apparently breed in Griqualand , as he shot four

s in February out of a small patch of mar h two were adults , e male and female , and the latt r contained eggs almost ready for laying . The other two were a young male and female ; probably the young of the above adults hatched in the spring , which looks as if they reared two broods in the year .

Sergt . Davies writes me that a wounded bird tried to frighten him by spreading its wings and tail to their fullest x e tent , jumping at his hand every time he put it near, at the same time making a kind of hissing noise ; but it did

ek not attempt to pe or scratch . It is generally believed that the male undertakes the duty of incubation in the same manner as the male Of the

ur ix various species of T n does . I can ﬁnd no deﬁnite state ment about this however , as far as South African birds are concerned .

r hi M . Sclater states that the most interesting t ng P x about the ainted Snipe is the relation of the se es , which appears to be reversed from what ordinarily holds good in among birds, the adult female be g generally larger and more brilliantly coloured than the male , while the young female resembles him .

a He also state that the female has croaking , guttural w i l note , hile that of the male is more shr l , this being due

36 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

to the construction of the trachea or windpipe , which in the female is convoluted and modiﬁed , while in the male it is straight and simple . Layard found this bird breeding in marshy ground close n to Cape Tow , and describes the eggs as being like those of the Ethiopian Snipe , but with yellower ground and with more deﬁned, darker markings , all of one shade .

Anderson found it breeding near Ondonga, in Damara land he states that it makes no nest, but that the eggs are

th e laid near water . Oates gives measurements as to

x to in .

37 FR I ANCOL NUS COQUI .

SHWIMPI OR COQUI FRANCOLIN .

(PLATE

Perdix co ui i R e Ex e en . d . 55 q , Sm th , p p C tr . Afr . , p .

’ F ranc linus s ubtor uatus a e e a o s d . a i s o f . . q Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , 600 1 8 5 i l s i . 7 N o n n an in . o o sm . p ( c l Egl gt , Sp rt S Afr , 1 03 p .

Fran linus C ui i vie- an a i t. s i 14 co o C . Mus II . 3 q , Og l Gr t, B rd Br t , XX , p

id ame - i 1 1 . s . 1 oo a Na a , G B rd , I , p W dw rd , t l

i 8 i no 2 - s . 1 60 1 99 e c e O el i as 4 1 00 1 , R , V . 9 9 0 B rd p ( ) h w g Afr k , I , p ( )

a Ann . . c e . Mus . . 354 a e a S l t r , S Afr , III , p Scl t r St rk , i f 1 s o . . . 97 B rd S Afr , IV , p

CAL AM E Isw em e o f he t s . LO N . p Zulu

E RI P N The i s e are an a a e and e a e . D S C TIO . b rd ﬁgur d dult m l f m l en a o 1 1 in L gth b ut .

T e i an n i n all o esia the D R BU N . h o F o i s o e IST I TIO C qu r c l f u d Ov r Rh d , an aa a It an e ex en s as far sv ec na an and Na a . s Tr l , B hu l d t l r g t d up the coas t as Damaraland on the west and nearly to the Equator a on the e st .

I HAVE shot many of these small Francolins in the Transvaal and consider them most sporting little birds . They are l hardly ever found far from bush , and ike to haunt fringes O l f mimosa along the ﬂanks Of the hills . I have occasiona ly been able to get them driven to the gun , when they come at a rare pace and require quick and accurate shooting as they dodge through the tops of the trees . They have the curious habit Of going to ground when hard pressed . One day during the South African War I was

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA riding with the front line of the advanced guard near Zeerust when a covey of Shw impi were ﬂushed three or four times . The last time , I saw them run along in front of the

- hi horses and three went down a meer cat hole , out of w ch

six ff I promptly pulled them , and our mess of o icers had

re half a bird each on biscuit for dinner . This incident I

an x member well , as e tra guest turned up for the meal , and my Irish batman thrust his head into my tent and demanded : Will I divide them three partridges into sivin — halves which was rather a defeating question .

x - They are e cell ent eating .

r . . i M . I b s 1909 . E C Chubb , writing in the ( , p says

Buluw a o that it is fairly common throughout the year at y ,

South Rhodesia, and that it breeds there . He further states that it begins to pair at the end Of October and lays from four to eight eggs in a Slight hollow in the grass .

l - The cry is a loud and penetrating cal of Kwee kit, and for a long time I thought it was the note of some Shw im i l small bird , until I saw a p cal ing quite close to me , as I sat under a tree waiting for a shot at a Steinbuck . This Francolin does well in captivity and soon becomes tame and friendl y .

Ma aliesber It is very common near Zeerust , in the g g M P ountains , and fairly common round otchefstroom wherever there are sufﬁcient thorn trees .

ni - The eggs are pale gree sh white , and measure about

by in . M l Mr. i lar writes : These birds are plentiful through N out atal , although more partial to the coast lands ; they

a r are resident all the year round . Old mealie ﬁelds and K ﬂi gardens are the favourite haunts , the coveys consisting of three or four brace ; they seldom settle in trees , although

39 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

they occasionally run into cover . The cock bird calls frequently during the day , uttering a loud , deﬁant note , and is said to be very pugnacious , its spurs being long and

O . pointed . These birds nest in the pen grass The last

O clutch coming under my bservation consisted of ﬁve eggs ,

- creamy white in colour and almost round in shape , and measuring by in . They were slightly incubated

o l th when found n March 0 .

W b i m il hei . w y Co p C . G Da es del .

C R ES T E D F RANC O L I N (FRANC OLINUS M a le . FRANCOLINUS SEPHAENA.

CRESTED FRANCOLIN .

(PLATE

i R e x e . . 55 Perdix se haena . E . n . p , Sm th, p p C tr Afr , p ’ i d . a a s of . 593 Fra ncolinus ilea tus a e s e . . p , Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , p a in 103 1 875 Ni oll s in on o s n . . . ( c Egl gt , Sp rt m S Afr , p ( 1 892)

- 1 46 F h n i i at i s i us . I ra ncolinus se oe a an C . . M . p , Og lv e Gr t, B rd Br t , XXI , p 1 8 a - i s I 1 1 3 1 895 eic e o O el 93 id . . n V ( ) , G me B rd , , p ( ) R h w, g A I I 54 i as . 495 1 900 a e nn . . . Mus . I . 3 Afr k , I , p ( Scl t r, S Afr , , p a i s 1 99 1905 a e of . . . ( ) Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr , IV , p

CAL AM E Inkw ali the s Mi a . LO N . of Zulu ( ll r)

s a a The e a e is e E R PT N The e e esen e . D SC I IO . ﬁgur r pr t m l f m l v ry similar in plumage but h as th e upper - p arts covered with narrow a a s of ff and ines a and a s s s en w vy b r bu l of bl ck , l ck pur . L gth o 12 in ab ut 1; .

D R BU N The es e F an o in is o n o o eob IST I TIO . Cr t d r c l f u d thr ugh ut B u analand as f ar as the am esi and so e n n o a in one , Z b uth r A g l i ec ion and in th e o e as f ar as an and s o e n d r t , th r Zulul d uth r a In as i a it is e a e o - i Moz mbique . E t Afr c r pl c d by ther closely all ed s e ies p c .

HE T Crested Francolin is nowhere a common bird . Its habits appear to resemble those of Pternistes swainsoni ’ n (Swai son s Francolin) , and it has the same liking for the

of Vicinity water and thick cover .

x Of i It feeds on the usual mi ed diet grain , nsects, berries, seeds, etc . l I have not shot this species, but have kil ed a few of ’ li F ranti n the closely al ed . g (Grant s Francoli ) in British East t Africa, and thought them mos unsporting little birds . So

41 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

Of reluctant were they to rise at times , that I once ran three them into a clump of bush and picked them up by hand . Their ﬂesh is excell ent- eating and not so dry as that of most r l F anco in s . r M . Sclater writes that the Crested Francolin seems everywhere to be a somewhat scarce bird , and that it is shy i and retir ng, generally being found in the dense undergrowth r l in l unn ing along the banks of rivers . It usual y occurs sma l ff in coveys, and is di icult to ﬂush ; it takes refuge trees , and there with crest erect and tail uplifted it gives vent to li ” a harsh metal c Chiraka . M l Mr. il ar met with these birds plentifully in Zululand hi Umvolosi n on the W te River , near its ju ction with the

Umvolos i SO t Block ; he found them shy , and much addic ed to close cover that they were difﬁcult to procure .

t a not The nes and eggs have , app rently, yet been described, but the latter will probably strongly resemble ’

i n F irki . those laid by its near relation K rk s Francoli ( . k )

w clel W il lierb O Da es y C . i m p .

KIR ’ S F RANC O L I N FRANC OLINUS KIRK% l K ( ) M a e . FR I ANCOL NUS KIRKI .

’ KIRK S FRANCOLIN .

(PLATE

i a a oc o 1 86 82 i i Soc . 7 . e n linus kirk P . o 7 ra co . F , H rtl ub , r Z l , p Og lv a i s i us 149 1 893 el e ir s an C t. . M . Gr t, B rd Br t , XXII , p ) Sh l y, B d

180 a an - is of i s 2 of . I . e . 3 Afr , , p Sh rp , H d L t B rd , I, p ic n O el i as 49 1900 e e ow V . 7 R h , g Afr k , I, p ( i i CAL AME Kuer Kuech . LO N .

DE CRI PT N is is one of th e s ma l es of th e ican Fran o ins S IO . Th l t Afr c l , 1 2 in n in 6 in u e . . and measures ab o t in . l gth W g § h ir in a a e Th e sexes are ali e t e e e . k , b d ﬁgur d b g m l

D R BU N Th e s ecimen om ic th e a e w as awn w as IST I TIO . p fr wh h pl t dr Mr a ais in o esia a l th a e . . . r . F . son col ected by e l t J M r Rh d M J . J ck records it as having b een killed as f ar north as the Taru Desert in i a is air omm on in some a s of Po British East Af r c . It f ly c p rt rtu a The ans aa M se m on ains tw o exam es guese East Afric . Tr v l u u c t pl

om o o Po ese as ic a c o le e Mess s . i fr B r r, rtugu E t Afr , l ct d by r K rby a nd Roberts .

i ’ i Mr. . A E . . I H V not met w th Kirk s Francol n , but C H B Grant i it l wr tes that is a woodland species . It ives mostly on the

F . s e ha ena . ground , and its habits resemble those of p In the early mornings it is to be found in the neighbour hood of native gardens and when disturbed it rarely attempts to fly, i and almost always prefers to escape by runn ng . If disturbed by a dog it generally flies up into the nearest tree, but sometimes it will rise and fly well, just like the

S Common Partridge . This pecies is nearly always met with in pairs .

r ournal o the S out M . Roberts writes in the J f h African ’ Ornitholo is ts Union 19 1 1 is g for December , , that it fairly

43 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

in Of P common the marshy parts ortuguese East Africa , and

l ix was usual y found there in coveys of ﬁve or s . He says that in its habits it resembles the Lemon-Dove (HaplOp elia larvata ) in its manner of running for a short distance when

n r alarmed, and then risi g with a startling whi r it is remark ably quick in dodging through the trees when in ﬂight and is then almost impossible to hit . Small coveys were observed on several occasions runn ing along the horizontal branches of tall trees at dusk, and no doubt they always roost in trees to be safe from their numerous

un Mr. in enemies . Two nests fo d by Vaughan Kirby June

i Mr P and July while collect ng with . Roberts in ortuguese

East Africa, were placed in patches of grass at the foot of small bushes . The eggs varied in colour from cream to

l and mm sa mon pink, measured to by to .

P LAT E 1 9

C . C w \V h | b Da es del . il e ) Co imp

G R E YW I NG F RANC O L I N FR ANCOLINUS 4FRICAN S l ( U ) M a e . F FRANCOLINUS A RICANUS .

GREY - WING FRANCOLIN OR CAPE

PARTRIDGE .

(PLATE

’ 323 Francolinus a rica nus e ens in a s Gen. oo . . f , St ph Sh w Z l , XI , p

- i 1 52 1 89 o i s us I . 3 o i ie an Cat . . M Og lv Gr t , B rd Br t , XX I , p ( ) W d 2 a Ann us III i 1 6 1899 c e . . . M . a Na a s . w rd , t l B rd , p ) S l t r , S Afr , , f 201 354 1905 a e a i s o . . I V . p . ( ) Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr , , p

’ d a a ir s of 595 854 F rancolinus a er a e s e . . . . f , Sh rp L y rd B d S Afr , pp , a i 1 01 i l in on o s n n . 1 8 5 N c o s . . ( 7 l Egl gt , Sp rt m S Afr , p i O l as 485 1900 e eno V e i . R ch w, g Afr k , I , p (

L AM E Patri s or e Patri s of th e D In LOCA N S . j B rg j utch ; tendele or Isak w atsha of th e Amaxosa an o a so (St f rd) , l in hual f a a applied to th e Redw g ; K e o the B sutos (Murr y) .

Th i e is an a u a e The e a e iff e s E RI P e . D S C TION. b rd ﬁgur d d lt m l f m l d r in a in n s and ein s i s a e onl o s . y h v g pur , b g l ghtly m ll r

Dr o dl e a e w i es in th e I bis 1904 of a se ies sen . B w r Sh rp r t ( ) r t o Dee on ein a o n ir s can b e is in is e eir fr m lf t , th t y u g b d d t gu h d by th i r a s and a e o e an i es Th e th i e o . e e wh t th t p l r l w r m d bl Old r b rd , th e o e S o e it is enea and th e r oa is a w a s o e m r p tt d b th , th t l y m r ose a e eason of the s a ins of the ea e s cl ly b rr d by r du ty m rg f th r , — - a in s ia l a The e those of th e lower thro t b e g e p ec l y sc le like. pr tty grey edging to th e feathers of th e fore- neck seems to b ecome

a a e in the ee in - season and the o an e and es n br d d dur g br d g , r g ch t ut ma in s n h - n c and c s ar a a In o n rk g o t e fore e k he t e very pp rent . y u g birds thes e c olours are more subdued and th e black cross - b arring is on in e to the o e - oa c o e wi e is in i e c t u d l w r thr t , upl d th v ry d t ct wh t s a - a s The a e of th e c own is a is in o n h ft stre k . plum g r bl ck h y u g i s wi a ins of san f o s i a in a s a e a e b rd , th m rg dy ru u mp rt g c l d , r th r a t th a Th s n a s ea e a ea an e o e e . e o es om the th tr k d, pp r c h d pr gr fr b arred- breasted young bir d to the thickly p earl- sp otted adult is ra a l a i e and a a en to a ea ex en an e g du l y cqu r d , pp r tly , gr t t t, by ch g

4 5 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

of ea e a e the r s o en iff e en in s of a ow f th r ft r ﬁ t m ult, wh d r t k d rr s a e a a a a i n a Th h p d bl ck m rks nd b rs are much in ev dence b e e th . e en is a 14 in l gth bout .

D TRIBUT N ene a l is i a o n and the IS IO . G r l y d tr buted through C pe C lo y upper and more elevated parts of Natal and locally through the aa Orange River Colony and the southern Transv l .

ILL MR . M AR states that in Natal this bird is known as the Berg Grey - wing from the fact that it is found only in the i l Vic nity of the Drakensberg . When ﬂushed they are usual y

r on the brow of the hill, and all rising together with a sh ill, squeaky alarm , dive quickly round the corner, and are out of sight before a shot can be ﬁred ; if, however , they f can be marked down, they will rise singly and then af ord good sport .

- Sergt . C . G . Davies writes that Grey wings are common in most of the higher districts of the Cape Colony, and that they are usually found in coveys Of from ﬁve to ﬁfteen or

- more, and frequent the hill sides, especially when they have

r - a ter ace like formation . I have shot them in various parts of the Orange River i Colony and have never found them far from kopjes . Ow ng to their strong ﬂight and the nature of the ground in which they are found , they are most satisfactory birds to shoot and x give sometimes e tremely sporting shots, especially when l they are ﬂushed on a hill we l above the sportsman, and come

his tearing over head at all sorts of angles , each bird screaming his loudest . They are far noisier when they rise than the

Orange River Francolin , and are not nearly such powerful runners . Near Bloemfontein I have often noticed the cock birds calling in the mornings and evenings from the tops of stone walls .

They feed early and late on small bulbs, seeds and insects ,

GAM E - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA o ut and eat potatoes . Their favourite food, however , is a small bulb forming portion of the root of a species of rush, some varieties of which are found wherever I have been in

. l South Africa These birds wil also eat grubs, beetles , locusts and ants . When locusts are about in the Wingless x stage these birds become e cessively fat, but I have not known their ﬂesh to have a rank ﬂavour from this food, as is the case with some of the Bustards . I presume that the vegetable diet corrects the tendency of this food to make

. S the ﬂesh rank They nest in the pring, from September M to December as a rule, but sometimes as late as arch and April . The time of nesting very much depends upon the rains .

- l Grey wing are noisy birds, having a clear ringing cal , generally to be heard at sunrise and sunset, particularly when there is a change of weather coming .

- r When ﬂushed, Grey wing generally rise with sh ill squeaks from all the members of the covey, which is a very i fﬁ dist nctive feature of this species , quite su cient to dis tin uish g it from the other species I know . The feeding time of these birds is from sunrise to about 4 m . m . 10 a . ri , and from p till dusk , du ng the winter months, and in summer they feed earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon . The Scratchings of this bird can generally be distinguished from those of Larks and small animals by the mark of the bill x i n at the ape of the scratchings, where it was serted to lever out the bulb or root that was being searched for .

- The chief enemies of the Grey wing, other than man , appear to be the numerous Hawks found in the Karroo and the Secretary Birds, but I have no doubt that wild cats, jackals, and red meercats do a fair share in the killing . I have

4 8 GAME - BIRD S OF SOUTH AFRICA

- L nn P seen a Falcon , the South African a er , stoop at artridges

I have ﬂushed , but without success . They are monogamous , but I have no evidence on the subject as to whether they pair

Of for life . The coveys nearly always consist the two old ’ - birds and the season s chickens . The nests are cup shaped , somewhat deep , carefully lined with grass, placed under the i shelter of a bush or tuft of grass, and containing from e ght to ﬁfteen eggs . The eggs are slightly larger than those of tame Pigeons and spotted with minute brown spots on a

- S dull coloured background . The pots vary, and sometimes ” the eggs are blotched with brow n. If the covey is broken up and the Shooter has good

ff x dogs they a ord e cellent sport, as they will then lie like stones . They thr ive well and have been known to breed in cap t it iv y. I have never found the nest but have seen eggs which are dark brown minutely spotted with brown pin points . They measure from to by to in .

n Mr. accordi g Sclater . FRANCOLINUS LEVAILLANTI .

D IN CAPE RE W GED FRANCOLIN .

(PLATE

i i D . at II 441 a n enn s N . . Perdix levaillantii e e . Sc , V l c , ct , XXXV I, p

’ i a e s ed a a i s f Afr 596 Fra ncolinus levailla nt . o . . . , Sh rp L y rd B rd S , p i o s in on o s an in Afr 10 . 0 1875 N . . ( c ll Egl gt , Sp rt m S , p - i i 1 4 18 2 i i an at r s . Mus . I 5 9 189 e C . . 3 ( ) Og lv Gr t, B d Br t , XXI , p ( )

i - 1 1 1 5 a a a 1 i s . 9 89 oo N i s 6 1 d. a e . , G m B rd , I , p ( ) W dw rd, t l B rd , p O l i as 484 1 00 a eic eno V e Af . 9 e R h w, g r k , I, p ( Scl t r, III 354 1905 a e and a i s Of A us . nn Af r . M . S . , , p ( ) Scl t r St rk , B rd 203 Af r IV . S . . , , p

f h nis LOCAL NAME S . Redwing o t e Colo ts ; Hill Redwing of a a Itend l f th s ill a N t l ; e e o e Zulu (M r) . i 14 R N . a e as n u e n in Th a DESC IPTIO Adult m l ﬁg r . Le gth . e dult a is lik h a a l h as no s rs e e e t e e s . f m l m l , but u u l y pu

h e a in is not o n no of he i DI S R BU N . T e e t o T I TIO C p R dw g f u d rth L mp po, and seems to be os a n an in a o on en e e it is m t bu d t C pe C l y . Ev th r s e a o a ein ie on ne to the so e n dis i s om wh t l c l, b g ch fly c fi d uth r tr ct , and it does not app ear to reach the more western or north -western i ns f h n port o o t e colo y . a a r Mil a s a es a th e e win is o n on th In N t l M . l r t t th t R d g f u d e i e e e s a ten mi es o th oas The o e s nsis h gh r l v l bout l fr m e c t . c v y co t of tw o or ee a e and th e i s sit e ose n i s e thr br c , b rd v ry cl u t l flu h d n e to a c nsi a anc whe th y fly o der ble dist e. r oo sa s a is F an o in is o n in air n e s M . W d y th t th r c l f u d f umb r a o as on on o at imes en th e ea e is e b ut E t L d , th ugh t wh w th r v ry dry

in h in - season eco s a e t e ee e e . dur g br d g , th y b m c rc Da ies e l s me a it is f ar o on in Pon o S ergt . C . G . v t l th t fr m comm d an ex e in a few o a i ies nea the oas l d c pt l c l t r c t .

TH E i i Cape Redw ng is a somewhat locally distributed b rd, being plentiful in some districts and entirely absent in others ; it is usually met with in small coveys of from ﬁve to eight

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

individuals, generally in secluded valleys where there are plenty of rushes and long grass ; Layard particularly men i t ons its preference for the thick palmiet (reed) beds, which are so O ften found along the rivers of the southern part of the Colony . Every one remarks that it lies very close and that a very good dog is required to ﬂush it, and after this has been done once it is almost impossible to make the bird rise again , so much so that if carefully marked down it can almost be caught by hand .

- i The call note, heard morning and even ng, is loud and h F . s elle i harsh, and though resembling that of y , is not so i i i n d st nct and can be readily d sti guished . Its food consists of insects, seeds, and small bulbous roots ; it is particularly

i l is fond of Glad o i and Watsonia bulbs , and generally to be n found where these are growi g in any numbers . The nest is usually well hidden in a depression in the ground

l th e among long grass , genera ly not far from water ; eggs,

—“ i in ﬁve to e ght number, Vary somewhat, but are usually a dark tawny, Spotted throughout with dark brown .

L . I is 1 . . . b 90 ieut C H T Whitehead ( , 3) states that he 15 found fresh eggs on December th, and young ones onl y a few weeks old in June . I have observed the breeding- season varies in many South

- i Af rican game birds, and bel eve that many of them breed quite regardless of the time of the year , so long as the supply

suﬂicient of food is plentiful and shelter is available .

5 1 R I FRANCOLINUS GA IEPENS S .

ORANGE RIVER FRANCOLIN .

(PLATE

F ranc li u i o 83 and 84 o n s arie ensis o . . . . g p , Sm th , Z l S Afr , III , pp ’ f 599 1 8 - 584 a e s ed . a a i s o . . . 7 Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , p ( ) a a in 101 Ni o l s and in on o s n . . . (p rt) ; c l Egl gt , Sp rt m S Afr , p

1 8 2 - i 1 55 1 8 i s . us II . 93 9 i ie an Cat. M ( ) Og lv Gr t, B rd Br t , XX , p ( )

i - 2 i n O l A I d. ame i s 1 0 e e ow V e i as I . , G B rd , , p R ch , g fr k , , ii 1 a u III 4 . x 900 c e Ann . . . M s . 35 p ( S l t r , S Afr , , p 2 5 a e and a i s of . IV . 0 Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr. , , p

CAL NAM E e in of the o onis s a ie to his s ies LO . R dw g C l t ppl d t pec as linus helle i and F evaillanti e as ra n l . w ll to F co s y .

DE CR IP N ul a as in n a e e. e o 1 3 in S TIO . Ad t m l ﬁgur L gth b ut . The ema e diff e s o the a e in ein wi o s s f l r fr m m l b g th ut pur , though i s a n n in i a somet mes p osse sing blu t k ob the r pl ce .

D S R BU N The an e i e F an o in w as s aine I T I TIO . Or g R v r r c l ﬁr t obt d by ir mi at the ea - a e s of the a e on i e in a S . is A S th h d w t r C l d R v r , wh t now B asutoland it has not been found south of the Orange Riv er no a s it o rs o i a an es e ana an rthw rd ccu thr ugh Gr qu l d W t , B chu l d , the an e i e o on and th e o e n ans aa its l ace Or g R v r C l y S uth r Tr v l , p b eing taken by other closely allied sp ecies to th e eastwards and es a s w tw rd .

e Da ies in o s me a h e met i a f ew at i a S rgt . C . G . v f rm th t w th Al w l in h a a f th e war North dur g t e e rly p rt o .

ON the kopjes which surround the Potchefstroom Commonage li and round their bases , Orange River Franco ns are quite common and I have shot numbers of them . I t is useless to i try and shoot them without the help of dogs , as they w ll squat in d or run , or rise out of range, or some other way efeat the sportsman who goes out alone . n The best plan is for two guns only to shoot, one goi g in

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

k O front of the dogs on the pje and the others keeping behind , but both guns on a level lower than the dogs . When the birds are flushed they usually fly dow n hill and by adoptin g i i this plan some really sport ng shots can often be obta ned, and one really high curly bird is worth ten shot out of a i meal e field . These Francolins are very common near Vryburg and right

D S into the Kalahari esert, and I have hot them in many places where they could hardly have had a drink for weeks , although doubtless juicy berries and roots were sufﬁcient for their needs . They thrive well in captivity and I have seen them come to feed with the poultry at a Boer ’ s farm where they were protected and not shot at . n Their cry , usually uttered at daw and evening, is clear and ringing ; it is an unmis takeable call sounding like the “ ” “ ” “ l - - - k illeelie two words Kil y keelie, Killy keelie , Killy ; t is i sometimes uttered when the covey gets scattered . The chief e nemies of these Francolin s are the various

C nictis enicilla ta meercats , especially the red meercat ( y p ) ,

- e wild ats of various sorts , jackals , hawks , and snakes . The

- i Secretary Bird is a terr ble foe to the young broods . From

the stomach of one . which I shot , I removed no less than nine chicks of this species which must have been at least ten days

- i old . It is often a matter of wonder to me how game b rds ll in South Africa manage to rear their broods at a . i n . The eggs measure about by , and are dark café

- a u lait colour speckled with brown . They are of the usual

- - peg top shape common to most game birds .

53 FRANCOLI S ARIS NU JUGUL .

BUTTIK FER ’ O S FRANCOLIN .

(PLATE

Fr n linus ula ris Buttik ofer es ‘ e en us XI 6 l a co u N M . 7 P IV j g , , ot L yd , , p , . - i i u 1 9 il ie an Cat. s . M s 56 189 188 . 3 ( ) Og v Gr t , B rd Br t , XXII , p ( )

- 1 21 eic eno O l i s I . V e i as id. a e , G m B rd , p R h w, g Afr k , I , a Ann Af r Mus III 4 489 1900 e . . . . 35 p . ( Scl t r, S , , p i f 20 a e and a s o . . I V . 7 Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr , , p

’ 'a ir F an linus arie ensis a e s ed . a s of Afr 5 r co . . . 99 g p , Sh rp L y rd B d S , p (part) ( 1875

h i is an a l a x DE CRI P I N T e u e e . Th e s e es are S T O . b rd ﬁg r d du t m l a h a is o s i e in a e t e e e i s . en a o l k plum g , but f m l w th ut pur L gth b ut

1 3 in .

’ DI S RIBU I N Buttik ofer s F an o in is the es e n e esen a i T T O . r c l w t r r pr t t ve i an o in F arie ens is an is al of th e an e e . d o n l Or g R v r Fr c l ( g p ) , f u d r an o - es i a and so e n An o a th ough Germ S uth w t Afr c uth r g l .

CON C E RNIN G its habits Anderson gives the following account I only met w ith this beautiful Francolin on the high table lands of Damara and Great Namaqualand but there it is frequently very abundant in coveys usually of six or eight individuals , though sometimes as few as three birds , and at

an others as m v as fourteen compose the covey . These Francolins invariably frequent grassy slopes sprinkled with dwarf bush ; they lie very close, and after having been once or twice ﬂushed are not easily found again, even with the assistance of dogs . They feed on bulbs, grass, berries and seeds, and their ﬂesh is very good for the table .

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

i I have not met with this b rd, as I have never been in the i localities which it nhabits nor do I know its eggs , which those near relative

c River Fran olin .

55 FRANCOLINUS SHELLE I Y . Y’ A SHELLE S FR NCOLIN .

(PLATE

F rancolinus shelle i il ie- an i 1890 348 ico s an s . N d y , Og v Gr t, Ib , , p ; ll

in on o sman in Af r 1 - , . . , . 05 O i ie an Egl gt Sp rt S p g lv Gr t, at ir s i . 1 5 I C . us I M , , . 7 P . Rei enow B d Br t XXI p , VI ch , V O el as 490 1 900 a i . Ann Af r e . . . Mus g Afr k , I , p ( Scl t r , S , I II 354 c a an a . e d ir s of Af 2 . r IV . 08 , p S l t r St rk , B d S . , , p ( 1906)

’ F rancolinus arie ensis a e s ed a a i f . s o 599 g p , Sh rp L y rd B rd S . Afr . , p . , (p art) ( 1875

CAL NAM E o n e in of a a i LO S . Th r R dw g N t l Colon sts I sendele of th e s illa Zulu (M r) .

DE CR P N . Th e i e is an a a e Th x a S I TIO b rd ﬁgur d dult m l . e s e es re a i th e ema a e . 1 e s s s en a o 3 . l k , but f l l ck pur L gth b ut in

D R BU N is i i th a n e n IST I TIO . Th b rd s e e s ter r pres e tativ e of th e ran i n o F a ie en s an a s e e a in . r si d in s e e a e O g R v r Fr c l ( g p ) , v r l pl c th e tw o s e ies e a p c ov rl p . Its rang e extends from Britis h Eas t Afric a s outhwards through an a i a and th io f th i a Germ E s t Afr c e reg n o e Zamb esi. It s ls o n in N as a an and Na a and m Na a to Ma s ona an fou d y l d t l , fro t l h l d ,

I HAVE not met with this species in South Af rica but have

l uas frequently kil ed it in British East Af rica . On the G in Gishu P ft lateau, at an elevation of to . , it is very common and its clear ringing call is one of the ﬁrst sounds of early dawn .

It is found there on grassy plateaus studded with acacia thorns ,

s aw and is always a welcome addition to the larder . I once P l one being fairly ﬂown by a al id Harrier , and when I inter f ered it was much exhausted and would doubtless have been taken very shortly . The hawk pursued it like a Goshawk or

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

- Sparrow Hawk , and the Francolin ﬂew perhaps a quarter of a mile at a time, screaming all the way it would then pitch and dodge the Hawk in grass or rough bush , but immediately the Hawk settled the Francolin would take to ﬂight again and the whole performance would be gone thr ough again . Shelley ’ s Francolin is generally distributed throughout

N - as atal, frequenting the coast lands as well the thorns up- country like most other Francolins it calls at dawn and late at night with a clear and distinct whistle .

Mr. l J . ffol iott D arling writes that this Francolin is widely i M in distr buted in ashonaland , and is found in every k d of country excepting near the Vleis it is probably most abundant in lightly wooded country sometimes a covey will haunt a bare kopje without a bush on it and with scarcely a blade of grass ; there the birds hide between the stones and rocks , and lie so close, even when a dog points to them , that it is O ften possible to catch them in the hand the Mashonas frequently follow them and watching where they pitch , kill

c them with sti ks . They are fond of digging up roots of grass in the dry season and become very fat in consequence ; they also gorge them

on selves locusts . The nest is of the usual simple construction common to most Francolins, and eggs have been found in every month from June to November . The covey consists as a rule Of two or three brace ; they nest in the grass or in the vicin ity of some old ﬁeld which r Mi they frequent ; M . llar found a nest in August containing n ﬁve eggs which were mi utely spotted , and measured by in .

57 FRANCO AD P R LINUS S E SUS .

- RED BILLED FRANCOLIN .

(PLATE

’ F rancolinu u x s ds ers s a o s in xan s E ed . II 2 a e e e e . 67 p , W t rh u Al d r p , , p , ’ I 18 8 i 5 0 1 8 - 84 P . 3 a a a d s of . . 9 5 e s e . 7 ( ) Sh rp . L y rd B rd S Afr , p ( ) Nico ls in a i 1 04 1892 i i on o s n n . . e l Egl gt , Sp rt m S . Afr , p ( ) Og lv an at i i u 1 5 I 1893 i M . 9 P . V I I e e C . s . s Gr t, B rd Br t , XXII , p , ( ) R ch now O el f i as 4 4 1 - 01 a Ann Mus V 7 900 e . . . , g A r k , I , p . ( ) Scl t r , S Afr , III , 54 2 3 1 05 a a i f . 0 . 9 e and s o . . 9 p ( ) Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr , IV , p

CAL NAME P easan of th n is Fazant of the D S . e LO h t E gl h , utch o onis s in the ans aa An F an o in i a i al C l t Tr v l . y r c l wh ch h b tu ly e es in ees is n n as a easan if it os s on the p rch tr k ow ph t , but ro t o n it i a is of our se i e o io s gr u d s c lled a p artridge . It c qu t bv u

a all s - a n in s e ies of F an o in s oos in ees th t bu h h u t g p c r c l mu t r t tr , or f xi nc in they would be sp eedily wip ed out o e ste e by verm .

DES R P a x ar a i x e Th i r is a e . The se es e e e C N . e e I TIO b rd figu d m l l k , c pt a th e a a s s s o n i s a e the an e th t e f m le l ck pur . Y u g b rd h v m tl simila to the es of the e - a s as e and so e of the r r t upp r p rt figur d , m s a l a s are o c e i a at the ex e i ies th e n e c pu r bl t h d w th bl ck tr m t , u d r a s o nis - i e ne e i la e i a the ill p rt br w h wh t , fi ly v rm cu t d w th bl ck ; b is a a l en d rk purple and th e legs are paler th n in the adu t . L gth o 1 in ab ut 3 .

D R BUT N The R ed- il e F an o in is n in e an IST I IO . b l d r c l fou d G rm South es i a the no e n a a a i a on th e aa i e and on w t Afr c , rth r K l h r , l g V l R v r th e bank s of th e Marico and Limpopo Rivers in the north -west ans aa Tr v l . It is quite common along th e b anks of the Vaal River between ’ Fo een ea s and Schoeman s D i e e e e e is a urt Str m r ft , wh r v r th r

i s it is not a i o a in o e a . th ck bu h , but b rd w rth t k g much tr ubl bout

TH E Red- bill ed Francolin is the Transvaal representative

ca ensis in of the Cape Pheasant ( F . p ) and habits is very

i natalensis . l ke that species and F . It is found in coveys num berin g up to ten or twelve in the thickest bush and always

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

near water . When pursued the coveys break up at once , each bird either tearing away as fast almost as a rabbit, or i else jumping quickly to a th ck bush and there squatting .

i x It s e tremely difﬁcult to ﬂush, is an inveterate runner and skulks thr ough the thickest and thorniest places at tremendous speed . If headed by the dogs it will often perch in a tree and stay there until the sportsman appears, when it dives out and has a marvellous kn ack of always being on the wrong side of the bush for a successful shot . I have found it very noisy i ndeed in the morning and i ni even ng and also often during the ght, especially if there were a moon . The eggs are laid in the densest cover possible ; they are

- pale creamy white and measure about by in . L i ayard states that they are peculiarly shaped , be ng truncated at both ends ; but I think those he found may have been abnormal, as all those I saw were shaped the usual

- Partridge and Francolin peg top fashion .

59 FRA - NCOLIN US NATALENSIS .

NATAI. FRANCOLIN .

(PLATE

n linus na ta lensis i ar o n 48 F ra co . . . . c . , Sm th , S Afr Qu t J ur , II , ’ a d a a i of 2 1 8 l s . i o s e e s . . . 59 75 N Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , p ( c l and in on o s an in Afr 105 i ie Egl gt , Sp rt m S . . , p . Og lv at i s i u I 1 66 an C . . s . oo a Gr t, B rd Br t M , XXI , p W dw rd, a a i 1 2 ic n O l a 4 5 N s . 6 e e o e ik s V . 7 t l B rd , p R h w, g Afr , I , p 1900- 01 c a Ann Af r u III 354 1 905 a e e . . . M s . ( ) S l t r , S , , p ( ) Scl t r and ar ir f r 2 1 2 s o . Af IV . St k , B d S . , , p

L M E oas Pa i e of Na a Na a a P easan LOCA NA S . C t rtr dg t l m qu h t of the Transvaal Boers ; Insekvehle of Zulus ; L'esogo ' ho of th e anas Leso e . i. e . B chu

Th i is a a i a a o DE CRIP N . e e e e s e S TIO b rd ﬁgur d m l , wh ch m ur d b ut 1 1 in h s ex s ar a i but th a i i s ma 3 T e e e e e e e s s e . 1, . l k f m l l ghtly ll r

R BU N The Na a an o in a es the a e of the a e DIST I TIO . t l Fr c l t k pl c C p Pheasant in the eastern p ortions of South Africa and is found in Na a a i an th e as e n ans aa and in some a s of t l, Sw z l d , E t r Tr v l p rt B echuanaland ; it h as also b een recorded from th e Zambesi by h a e a n o exan e t e l t C pta i B yd Al d r .

A E x r D i I H V no personal e perience of this bi d but Sergt . av es writes me as follows P I have only met with this species in ondoland , where it in l i r is found most of the val eys , frequent ng the thick sc ub in Six coveys of ﬁve or birds . They are great runners and w i ithout a dog almost impossible to put up , and ow ng to the

is SO bad ground they frequent , where walking difﬁcult, I have seldom worried them much .

They have a loud , harsh , cackling call uttered mostly in the evening . They are easy to shoot when once on the

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

hr i wing, if you can see them t ough the th ck bush, and they n ge erally perch in the branches of a tree on alighting .

The crops of those I have shot contained grain , bulb s ” and berries, with a few insects .

The four species of bare - necked or red - throated Fr an

i P ernis es u dico is c n er t t h boldti P . nu l P s e m l . n . a taneiv t col ns ( , ,

s wa insoni c s and P . ) as well as F ran olinus cap en is and F ran colinus ads ersus p and this species, all seem to have similar habits , and owing to these and the impenetrable nature of the bush in which they live they are not very sportin g birds s ometimes, however , they can be driven , when they give x most e cellent shooting . ’

Mr. r L hura Two eggs sent by A not to Mr . ayard from Ma s in M country, and now the South African useum , are pale brown i w thout spots and measure by in .

6 1 FRANCOLI US P N CA ENSIS .

OR CAPE FRANCOLIN CAPE PHEASANT .

(PLATE

Tetrao ensis in a 5 ca e s . N t. I . 7 9 p , Gm l , Sy t , , p

’ Francolinus clama tor a e s ed a a ir f . s o 59 1 , Sh rp L y rd B d S . Afr . , pp . , 854 1 875 - 84 Ni o l s in on o s an in Afr 105 ( ) c l Egl gt , Sp rt m S . . , p . ( 1892)

lin i i - i s i u Franco us ca ens s il v e an at. M s 1 C . II 65 p , Og Gr t, B rd Br t , XX , p . i a 4 3 1 00 e eno V O el f ik s I . 7 9 a e R ch w, g A r , , p ( Scl t r , Ann Af r Mu 354 a e a i f . . . s s o S , III , p . Scl t r St rk , B rd 2 10 S . Afr . , IV , p .

L E P easan f the n is Faza f h CA NAM . t t LO S h t o E gl h . n o e Dutch o onis s C l t .

DE CRIP n a o 1 in Th i i a Th N Le . e e s a 7 e. e S TIO . gth b ut b rd ﬁgur d m l e a e is s i s a e and the sexes are a i e f m l l ghtly m ll r l k .

D RI BU I N is is th e a es of th e o f i an F an o ins IST T O . Th l rg t S uth A r c r c l and is o nly fo nd i hin th e Cape Co ony and chieﬂy in the u w t l , - i ns of it southern and south western p ort o . is e a n an on o en s an in a e Ba e e it It v ry bu d t R bb I l d T bl y, wh r w as in o e an ea s a o tr duc d m y y r g . The Cape Pheasant is found chieﬂy in th e coast districts and is esp eciall y abundant in bushy kloofs and along watercour ses where there is a thick growth of rank vegetation and low under oo is o on in the i e ia e icini of a wn w d . It c mm mm d t v ty C p e To . i in s e i en i w as esen e to the oo o i a A l v g p c m , wh ch pr t d Z l g c l i o 1 1 1 a a i e o e of n on in 9 w as e . . . P . S c ty L d , c ptur d by C pt H A L ttl a e as a s a l ic on ei oes s an ic is si a e in d l m l ch k K m I l d , wh h tu t d the an e i a in ine to in a is i w as Or g R ver . I m cl d th k th t th b rd bred from p arents turned down by one of th e shooting syndic ates a own o e t a on the an s o a i e The s o th t pr p r y l g b k f th t r v r . cu t m of turning down birds is by no means uncommon among sp orts men in o i a and is o a ac o n s for the esen e S uth Afr c , th pr b bly c u t pr c o i i s o f ar no f o a an e f th s b rd rth o its n rm l r g .

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

E i - TH Cape Francolin , l ke the Red billed Francolin , is ﬂushed f with great di ﬁculty , preferring to squat or run when pos

sible ; it resorts to the lower branches of thick trees , and there rem ain s concealed just beyond the reach of the dogs ; ‘

like other Francolins it feeds early and late on tender shoots ,

especially of green fern , as well as on grain and on insects .

- Its note is a loud and drawn out chuckle, generally heard

when the bird is disturbed and ﬂying Off to shelter . — I have only Shot this bird a few times it is Often foun d n feedi g on the edges of cultivation, especially if near water , and being large and not particularly quick on the wing I

have always found it easy to shoot .

The nest is placed on the ground, usually under a bush ; eight to fourteen eggs are laid and are of a greenish - brown or brownish - cream colour ; they measure to by i n. n to , accordi g to Oates .

63 TE B LDTI PTERNIS S HUM O .

’ HUMBOLDT S FRANCOLIN .

(PLATE

ii s s h in 1854 r linus humb t Pe e M E Ak a issen c . e F anco old . . . W , t r , d B rl , , 4 13 . p .

’ i a a a r 58 18 i s of . Af . . 9 5 Pternistes humboldt e s ed . 7 , Sh rp L y rd B rd S , p ( 4 - a a u 1 6 189 8 il ie n t i s i M s I I . 3 C . . 7 ) Og v Gr t, B rd Br t , XX , p ( ) ' 4 2 u i no o e i as I 6 a e Ann . . Afr III e e . . M s R ch w, V g l Afr k , , p Scl t r, S , , 4 1 a a I V 2 6 35 905 e i s of . Afr . . 1 p . ( ) Scl t r St rk , B rd S , , p

T i a Th a DE CRI PTI N he e is a e. e e e iff e s in S O . b rd ﬁgur d m l f m l d r having the sides of th e neck white with a wide black band down i h a Th e eas and a omen- ea e the m ddle of t e fe thers . br t bd f th rs a e na i e s a - s i es en a o 1 in th h v rrower wh t h ft tr p . L gth b ut 7 e a a in s fem le b eing ab out n ch horter . The young bird h as th e cheeks and sides of th e face white with a s a - s i es and e e is o i e on th e eas and bl ck h ft tr p , th r m re wh t br t a n bdome .

R a ica l D IBUTI N . e s a s in the Fauna o S A o . IV S Mr. e . r V I T O Scl t r t t f f , , that this sp ec ies is spread over Mashonaland and Portugues e East Af rica northward through Nyassaland and German and i i a a ana is a so to b e Br t sh E ast Afric s far as th e River T . It l n a i fou d near S l sbury . In i is as f i a r ac son ri es a it is a a en Br t h E t A r c M . J k w t th t pp r tly ﬁ ne to th oas e i n is o n in i on th e out on e o . c d C t r g It f u d W tu, s i s of the o es and is en i in the s - o n on the k rt f r t, pl t ful bu h c u try ank s of th e ana b e low r T .

IT F auna o S . A rica . . is stated in the f f , Vol I v , that Francis found this bird plentiful and common near Inhambane ; that it frequents thick scrubby and inaccessible spots during n in m the day, but is always to be fou d the Ka r gardens early n in the morning and late in the eveni g . On perceiving any

off -o one, it immediately runs int the scrub or other thick

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

O stuff and generally rises behind trees or other bstructions, so that it is diﬂicult to get a shot at it . Like other bush i l Francolins , on be ng suddenly ﬂushed by a dog it general y takes refuge in the branches of the nearest tree . It is very

- Kaffir fond of scratching up the ground nuts in the gardens, and also grubs up the roots of the manioc plant . It is a bird of strong flight and is generally found in pairs, although often in larger parties , but there are never more than five or i s x individuals together .

r n S ul M . ffolliott Darli g says that this pecies is plentif along the bank s of the rivers and in marshes near Mazoe in Mashona land ; th e nest is well concealed and more pretentious than that of most Francolins .

The eggs according to Reichenow, are smooth , yellowish white and covered somewhat sparsely with ﬁne darker spots

Mr . . . M . they measure by in ; but C F Swynnerton , ’ writing in the Journal of the S outh African Ornithologists

Union M , found it breeding near ount Chirinda, Southern

Rhodesia, in December, and describes its nest and eggs as follows Th e nest was a mere hollow lined with grasses , in a

- small comparatively bare spot in the grass jungle . The bird sat very close, almost allowing himself to be captured on the 4 nest, which contained ﬁve fresh eggs measuring by 3 , 44 34 4 3 5 . by , and by 3 mm The eggs were sharply pointed at the small end and rounded at the other ; and in colour , were palest brown , nearly white, the pores which were pitted densely over the egg, being actually white . There were no spots ” whatsoever .

65 -

PTERNISTES NUDICOLLIs .

SOUTHERN RED - NECKED FRAN COLIN (PLATE

Tetr nudi llis d a a ii ao co Bo d ert Pl E nl . , , T bl . . . , p

’ Pterni i 8 tes nud lli a a a i s f . 5 9 s co s e s ed . o . . , Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , p 18 5—84 i n an in 104 7 N o s in o o sm . . . ( ) c ll Egl gt , Sp rt S Afr , p 1892 i ie- an a ri u 1 4 1893 i s . s . C t. 7 ( ) Og lv Gr t, B rd B t M , XXII , p ( ) a a a ir 16 18 ic no o e Af i as oo N s . 3 99 e e W dw rd , t l B d , p ( ) R h w, V g l r k , 46 1 1900- 01 a r u I II 354 1905 . Ann . Af . s . e . M I , p ( ) Scl t r, S , , p ( ) c a a d a f 2 14 e n i s o . . IV S l t r St rk , B rd S Afr , , p .

AL E an a a i a f h o n LOC NAM S . Phea s t t Knysn n other p rts o t e c u try

ene a l nown a - n a an a g r l y k s th e R ed ecked Phe s t (Scl ter) .

DE CR IP I N Th ir i a 15 e e s an a e. n a o S T O . b d ﬁgur d dult m l Le gth b ut Th e a i a in a 1 a h in . e d t ea e s e s s e ea s o 3 in . n e f m l m ll r, m ur g b ut f th r on the nap e and the sides of th e neck are more strongly edged wi i e he a so a s s rs th wh t . S l l ck pu .

R BUT N Th e o n R - n c F anc in is a i f DIST I IO . S uther ed e ked r ol b rd o very o a is i ion and is onl o n in the i - oo e is ic s l c l d tr but , y f u d th ckly w d d d tr t f a o on a n th s a en a a a o C p e C l y lo g e outh co st from Swell d m to N t l .

THIS is another of the so - call ed bush- pheasants and a most

M ir r. Nat n . M al B ds unsporti g bird illar , in his book on , says that in certain districts this Francolin takes the place of the

F . natalens is r Natal Francolin ( ) , and like the latter bi d alights l in trees , and is cal ed a pheasant . It is generally found on

r k i the outski ts of the woody loofs, where its loud cackl ng call i may be heard in the early morn ng and in the evening . When put up by dogs it usually ﬂies to the nearest tree and conceals itself in the thickest part of it, from which position it is extremely hard to dislodge . It may at times even be caught n by the legs by quietly climbi g up the tree .

GAM E - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

Th‘ese birds apparently conﬁne themselves to the upper D is tricts of Natal , where they associate in pairs or small

i - coveys , frequent ng the yellow wood forests in the vicinity

K arkloof D . of , argle , and elsewhere

r th Mr. Sclater w ites that e nest is placed in long grass usually at the foot of a bush or tree , and that the eggs , which

six - f number from to eight in a clutch, are reddish buf minutely

- spotted with dark reddish brown or purple, measure by

67 I TE DI LI A T E E TER PTERN S S NU COL S C S AN IV N .

- NORTHERN RED NECKED FRANCOLIN .

(PLATE

ans aa Mus III . Ann . Pternistes casta neiventer nnin o e s . , Gu g R b rt , Tr v l 2 1 10 No . . . , p

i an a u a is s s e ies The i e s e . DE SCRIPTION . b rd ﬁgur d d lt m l Th ub p c a i t P nudicollis om ic it diff e s in a in is ose e o . cl ly ll d , fr wh h r h v g th e breast chestnut- coloured in general eff ect as compared with th e a eas of th e a e ir ea ea e a in the e bl ck br t l tt r b d, ch f th r h v g out r n p art coloured chest ut .

i i its on ene a i of a e es ic e DI TRIBU N . s e S TIO It , l k c g r, b rd v ry r tr t d an e i is o n e on th e so the n a s i e a e r g , wh ch b u d d uth by Su d y R v r v ll y , and as soon as th e Sundays River is crossed its place is taken by ic l P nud ol is . .

A E - n I H V not seen the Northern Red necked Fra colin , and what inf ormation I have about it has been obtained from

D . Sergt . avies This subspecies has in the past been regarded as representing P i . nudicollis the juven le plumage of , but in a recently made collection there are four adult male skins in which the spurs are fully developed , two on each leg, and it must therefore

subs e iﬁ all be regarded as at any rate p c c y distinct . Nothing has yet been recorded of the habits or eggs of

N - the orthern Red necked Francolin, but doubtless it does not differ in these respects from the southern bird .

w \V I t l e l Da es del . l l

’ W S WAI NS O N S F RANC O L I N (P TERN/S TES S AINS ONI) M ale .

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

curious harsh note at dawn and dusk . I have often watched them drink in the evenings and roost and then call away for some time, just as cock pheasants do in England .

When it can , it feeds on any grain obtainable from the

Cl ' ' x ripened ops , but otherwise its food is the usual mi ed diet

r . . . of a gallinaceous bi d , i e bulbs , seeds, berries and insects The natives and colonists often ﬁn d this species a nuisance to young crops, and are generally glad to have it killed ; never theless it does some good by destroying locusts .

It is a great runner , but sometimes gives good sport , especially if the guns can get near thick cover and then have ’ the birds driven this can often be done about 7 or 8 o clock in the morning when the birds are well out in the young crops feeding , and under these circumstances I have seen them come quite high and fairly fast .

ff - They are dry and indi erent eating , unless well hung and cooked with great care .

From a description of a nest found by Ayres, on the

- Shanghai River , we ﬁnd that the eggs are a pinkish cream

k - colour , ﬁnely speckled with chal y white and measure about

- 1 . . 5 in long , and are of the usual game bird shape

7 0

Wi therli y C O Imp C . G . Davies del .

- I M al HAR L EQ U I N Q UAIL (CO TURNIX DEL IGORGUE ) e .

- GAME BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA .

These birds are perfectly easy to keep in captivity, and given a suitable aviary that is not overcrowded, they are easy to breed . Harlequins frequent exactly the same sort of land as Cape i ll Qua l, and the bag after a shoot wi usually contain a pro portion of each species . I have shot a good many Cape Quail near Bloemfontein , but have never met with the Harlequin there . in l The males of this species vary much bu k and size, and

z this is especially noticeable in living specimens . I had a do en or more males brought to me in one consignment, and some i of them apparently were almost a th rd larger than the others . This I think is partly due to age and partly due to the fact that some birds carry their feathers tightly pressed to their bodies, and others carry them loosely and consequently look larger .

Da n es del

C APE Q U AI L ( C O TURNIX C APENS IS ) M a le

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA Quail are most plentiful on cultivated lands that have been allowed to become fallow and covered with weeds , but i they are also common enough among meal es and other crops . About May the greater part of the Quail have bred and they then migrate, but there are always a few stragglers to be found in suitable cover .

Quail feed chieﬂy on grass and weed seeds , the crops of those I examined at Potchefstroom being crammed with a i 8 small black seed about the s ze of No . shot and a few termites i and insects . Those I had in captivity were very fond of l ve termites and always met me at the aviary door when a bucket

- full of ant heap was brought to them .

-h - They ﬂy swiftly and rise wit the usual game bird rush , ” - - uttering a cry like Pree pree pree . Shooting them is rather monotonous if the cover be low and if the birds are plentiful, but they often give rather sporting shots when hi i ﬂushed in gh mealies (ma ze) , and a good spaniel with a tender mouth is then invaluable .

Quail when shot should not be hung, as they decompose

x n quickly . An e cellent recipe for cooki g them is to place a l r i r green chi i inside the bird after d aw ng it, then to w ap a _ piece of fat bacon round it and a green Vine leaf round the whole, and roast fairly quickly. So cooked they are appetizing to a degree . They lay from six to twelve eggs in a little grass- lined l hol ow, sometimes in grass and sometimes under the shelter n of a big weed or a small bush . The eggs are indisti guishable

mmunis O. co from those of the European Quail ( ) , and are

- w ﬂ eck ed bright yellowish bro n , and marked with dark brown

S . spots and plashes, and are sometimes very handsome

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

Africa in November ; it was placed in a slight hollow in the

- S . ground, lined with grass stalks and heltered by a tussock l un The eggs, eight in number , were light yel owish, bl t and not 8 shiny they measured . 0 by

P L AT E 34

W i th enb Da w es del ) Co . i m p .

- N RA m l KU R R IC HAN E B UT T O N Q UAIL ( TUR IX LEP U NA) Fe a e .

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA On the wing it is easily distinguished from a true Quail it looks much lighter in colour, and swerves very much more .

It does not ﬂy far, and after one ﬂight it will sometimes suffer itself to be caught by a spaniel rather than get up a second

i . r t me On rising , the t ue Quail gives a sharp cry of Kree

- - l s kree kree, but the Button Quail quite silent .

L f r ike so many other South A rican bi ds, its time of migra tion depends on the abundance of its food and on the severity of the cold weather . 190 In February , 7, my brother bought four of these little Quail from a Dutch boy in Pretoria and sent them to me in Potchefstroom ; they turned out to be three hens and one in x cock , and my large aviary they lived a retired e istence ll n among some tall grass ti the end of the followi g September , and fed on small seeds and termites which were supplied daily . About September I noticed that the cock and one of the hens were very friendly and never far apart, so I moved them into an aviary where there was more cover , and which was only inhabited by a pair of Cut - throat Larks or Cape Long claws (M acronyx cap ensis) . On the 3rd of October I noticed the pair of Button- Quail in a state of great ex citement ; a nest had been made in a thick tuft of grass and the birds stood facing away from it , throwing bits of dried grass over their heads in its direction .

The ﬁrst egg was already in the nest . t On the 5 h of October the second egg was laid, and in exactly twelve days the two extraordinary little ones were n hatched . Never have I seen anything clothed in dow quite so small and yet capable of independent movement . They

- - l looked no bigger than a good sized humble bee, and practical y from the day of hatchin g were as active as their parents,

78 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA scuttling off into cover and hiding motionless at the least i i no se . In colour ng they reminded me of that peculiar cater pillar found on hedges in Spring ; I think it is the Gold- tail

M . oth, but am not quite sure The cock bird did the whole of the sitting the hen never came near the nest , but went restlessly up and down the

i f or aviary boom ng another mate, and for some weeks the whole garden resounded with the curious ventriloquial note which sounded like C oop . One chick was acci

‘ dr n dentally owned, and the other was about half grow on

October 27th . wn I then went down to Cape To and , to my great annoy ance, when I returned ten days later I could ﬁnd no trace

Turnix. of the young The cock , however , had made a new i nest close to the site of the old one , and was s tting on four 19 eggs, two of which he hatched on November th , when he deserted the other two . I Opened the latter and found them to contain dead young just ready to come out .

The cock bird was wonderfully tame , and would allow himself to be picked up without struggling, and always brought

- his young up to my hand, out of which he took meal worms and fed them . This simpliﬁed very much the rearing of these tiny things . In this species, after the young are a week or ten days old they are sometimes fed and brooded by the female ; this I frequently saw her do . The two young referred to above turned out to be both D 1 hens , and on ecember 7th their eyes had changed from black to the pearl colour of the adult bird, which they completely resembled in all respects . M 1908 In the following arch , , I missed the cock Button

Quail and suspected he was sitting, but the cover in their

7 9 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA aviary was so thick that I did not risk searching for him and 24th perhaps disturbing him . On March I found him waiting

- at the aviary door with a newly hatched chick under him ,

- x which he fed on some huge meal worms . The ne t morning, when I went to look at him , I found three chicks under him , so that he must have gone back to the nest and hatched

off . 26th r these during the night On the , to my great su prise, nl I found a fourth chick with him . He was the o y male I

so possessed, that there could have been no question of the young having been hatched bV different males . Three of these chicks he brought up successfully .

The nest is merely a small depression in a tuft of herbage, and is thickly lined with grass . Four eggs are the normal

. 89 . 69 in . clutch . They measure about by , and are abruptly

r - pointed, of a di ty green coloured ground, speckled with ﬁne

- spots of dirty purple, light and dark brown .

\V II I| eI'by C C . Davies del

Fe m a le . NAT AL B UT T O N - Q UAl L ( TURNIX NANA) X A TURNI N NA .

- NATAL BUTTON QUAIL .

(PLATE

h an 1850 i dius nu u a rs For dl . n V e . a Hem o na s S dev ll Oefve . . t . p , , k Ak d , , 1 10 p . .

’ a f 60 a ix h ttent ta e s e a a i s o . . 7 Turn o o d . . , Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , p (p rt) ( 1875

u i - a u 54 1 1 893 ix na na il e n a i i . T rn t s . s C . , Og v Gr t, B rd Br t M , XXII , p ( ) Ann ic en O el i as I 303 1900 a e . e o V . R h w, g Afr k , , p ( Scl t r , i f . us . 111 355 a e a s o . S . Afr M , , p . Scl t r St rk , B rd Afr , Iv 240 , p .

R P N h e is a e a e en t of the a e T e s e i en . D E SC I TIO . p c m ﬁgur d f m l L g h m l a o 6 in in the es the ema e is a i e a e and s i b ut . ﬂ h , f l l ttl l rg r l ghtly o e i o o m r br ghtly c l ured . In the young bird the buff on th e breast is not nearly s o a n s a s x n i a s e a d the ans e e e e en e os . m rk d , tr v r b r t d t r ly cr

D R BU ON r a e ri es of it a it w as s isco e e ST T . M . S h d v d I I I cl t r w t , t t ﬁr t r in Natal by Wahlb erg and w as apparently lost sight of until e en en Mr i ie- an o it in o no ice a ain r c tly , wh . Og lv Gr t br ught t t g o si e o i an imi s it h as een met i in N assaland ut d S uth Afr c l t b w th y . In Pon o an it is not c o on is o n o o a d l d mm , but f u d thr ugh ut th t o n on ass a s c u try gr y ﬂ t .

TH E N - habits of the atal Button Quail , from notes taken P i in ondoland , appear to resemble those of other spec es . fli It es straight and fast and runs hard as soon as it pitches , so that it is very difficult to find again .

Mr. N According to Sclater it nests in atal in December , l 3 the nest being a small hol ow about in . across and about i - - in. i deep , lined with a few ﬁne grass stalks . The eggs i i M in wh ch are now in the South Afr can useum , are three

8 1 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

- i i number , very pale greenish white, very th ckly covered w th small spots and blotches of a yellow ish and a darker shade of brown . In shape they are nearly even ovals ;

95 . 6 . . they measure . to by 7 to 75 in

\Vitliei l) y Sr C O . I m p

- H O TT E NT O T B UT T O N Q UAI L ( TURNIX HO TTEN TO TTA) Fe ma le . TT T TTA TURNIX HO EN O .

- U HOTTENTOT BUTTON Q AIL .

(PLATE

T inc Pi t a I 6 6 57 u l II . 3 7 Hemi odius hottentott s emm k . e p , , g G l , , pp , ( 1 8 15)

’ a d a a i s f Af r 60 a Turnix hottentotta e s e . o . . . 7 , Sh rp L y rd B rd S , p (p rt) 10 i an in on s an in . 7 1875 N o s d o . . ( c ll Egl gt , Sp rt m S Afr , p

2 i - an at i s i u I 542 1893 189 il e C . . s . ( ) Og v Gr t , B rd Br t M , XX I, p ( ) 1 6 1899 ic n O l Af ik as oo a Na a i s . 7 e e o V e W dw rd , t l B rd , p ( ) R h w, g r , 2 1 00 c a e a i s f . I V 3 303 9 o . . 7 I , p . ( S l t r St rk , B rd S Afr , , p

Ann . . . us I II 55 1906 a e M . 3 ( ) Scl t r , S Afr , , p

a - ai of th e n is i - a e of LOCAL NAM E S . S nd Qu l E gl h ; Re t Qu rt l the D utch .

he e imen e is a e a e n a i E P N . s e o 6 n . D SCRI TIO T p c ﬁgur d f m l . L gth b ut a The female is s lightly larger th n the male .

w as na e to o a in a S in of a ma e in o ic a and I u bl bt k l S uth Afr , i in e i ion o one r a e g ve the foll ow g d scr pt f by M . Scl t r : General o o a o e a o s os of the ea e s a e i c l ur b v , d rk ruf u ; m t f th r b rr d w th a and e e i i e i in a ene a o e a ea an e bl ck dg d w th wh t , g v g g r l m ttl d pp r c scapulars conspicuously margined with golden - buff ; w in g - quill s a is - o n the o e i a s on a ine i i e bl ck h br w , ut r pr m ry tr gly m rg d w th wh t o es s ace oun the e e and c ee s o e f and i e l r , p r d y , h k m ttl d buf wh t , in and oa i e es of the n e - a s a so w i e o e e ch thr t wh t r t u d r p rt l h t , c v r d wi semi- c i c a a s o s mos n e o s on the c es th r ul r bl ck p t , t um r u h t ; a slight wash of pale buff on the chest ; tail elongated and oin e p t d .

D R B U N The o en o on- ai i IST I TIO . H tt t t Butt Qu l s apparently conﬁned to th e so h e n a of a e o on e e it is a esi en and not ut r p rt C p C l y , wh r r d t a e o m n one has not een e o e o a a n r v ry c m o . It b r c rd d fr m N t l o has it en met i no of the an i b e w th rth Or ge R ver .

IT is a curious fact that in the Button - Quail family the female bird is nearly always the larger and more brilliantly coloured .

83 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

She does all the courting and looking after the smaller male , which in his turn is entirely responsible for the in cubation

th e of the eggs and bringing up of the young . As soon as ﬁrst clutch of eggs is laid the female leaves the male and pairs with another, until she has laid her full complement of eggs . In captivity there have never been enough males to provide

ffi of S su cient mates for the hen any one pecies, but I do not think it probable that a Button - Quail would lay more than a dozen eggs in one season . Sclater writes in the F auna of S outh Africa that it is gener i ally solitary, although two may occas onally be seen together . It is found on grassy plains or among the reeds of dried-up ” vleis when flushed it flies a short distance, quickly settles down again and then makes off at a run ; it feeds on seeds and insects . The eggs in the South Af rican Museum are very

- pointed at one end , of a yellowish grey colour , very thickly speckled with spots and blotches of a yellowish and darker

90 . 6 . . 9 5 . 8 brown they measure to by 7 to 0 in .

w Da es del . VV h b it er y Co . Imp .

A C O M M O N G U l N EA- FO W L ( NUM/DA C OR ONATA)

E - 8 . AS T A F R IC AN C U IN EA FO W L (NUMIDA MI TRATA)

C DAM ARALA N D G U I N EA- FO W L (NUM/DA PAPILLOSA) NUMIDA CORONATA .

MM U - CO ON G INEA FOWL .

PLATE FI A . ( 37 , G . )

Numida a is of i s l a l 29 1 844 corona ta P . . , Gr y , L t B rd , III , G l , p ( ) ’ a i d - 4 d . a a Of . 8 1 8 4 a 1 8 5 8 e s e s . . 5 5 { 7 Sh rp L y rd B r S Afr , pp , (p rt) ) i lls in on a i 2 i ie N co o s n n . . 1 08 1 89 m . Egl gt , Sp rt S Afr , p ( ) Og lv i i an at . s u w a M s I . 6 oo C . 37 Gr t , B rd Br t , XX I , p W d rd , i 1 4 Na a s . 65 1899 ei enow V O el i as . 4 1 t l B rd , p ( ) R ch , g Afr k , I , p 1 00- 01 a a e 9 e Ann . Mu I II 1 0 c . s 355 9 5 ( ) Scl t r , . S Afr , , p . ( ) S l t r a d a ir 2 n s of . I V 2 . 7 St rk , B d S Afr , , p

L E Tarantal of t t e LOCA NAM S . h e Dutch ; Impangele of h Amaxos a and s o o a Zulu (W dw rd) . i t a a 24 I x ar a e . en of he e o n . The se es e DE SCRIPTION . L gth m l b ut l k i a l~ n i s We ght of wel grow b rd ju t o ver 3 lb .

R Th e an e of is i ex en s all ove the eas e n DIST IBUTION . r g th b rd t d r t r a f of e o on and Na a and no w a s to the am esi h l Cap C l y t l rth rd Z b , it e es in o e as i an N mitra ta to the es its where m rg t th E t Afr c . w t

i - an e o e a s a of th e c ose a e . a i a r g v rl p th t l ly ll d N p p lla 8 . I ha ve shot or seen this Sp ecies in many p arts of th e Transvaal it is comm on near Potchefstro om and along the b anks of th e Mo e e i e and in ac in o s s i a e aces in the an e d l r R v r , f t m t u t bl pl Or g iv n a e also s e n it in t e a a a i es e in R er Colo y . I h v e h K l h r D rt

great numb ers .

UINE A- OWL G F are very gregarious, and are sometimes found in enormous ﬂocks . I saw one near Zeerust which must have Of 00 consisted at least 5 birds . They range over a huge ﬂ tract of country , and a ock may have its headquarters on one farm and work backwards and forwards some miles to another farm , where the food is suitable . In the Fa una of S outh Africa it is stated that although often kept tame on farms, it never breeds in captivity nor

85 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

S mates with the domestic pecies . This is contrary to my x e perience . I got some young bir ds which were on a Boer n farm and had been hatched under a hen, and these whe full grown not only bred inter se but also crossed freely w ith w d the domesticated bird , hich is oubtless derived from a

elea ris . West African species (N . m g ) The wild cocks were much more powerful and heavy than the tame birds, and during the mating- season they killed several of the ’ l n - latter by literal y run ing them to death . A Guinea Fowl s

- n f i duel is a very long wi ded and tedious a fa r , and consists in the weaker bird running about three yards in front of the l stronger for an hour or so , when the assailant wi l stop to

dr . r aw breath , as well he may The weaker bi d then attacks

in air there is a wild jump the , but as they have no spurs no

e —a r harm is don feather or two is lost , the weaker bi d loses

i . heart , and the whole performance is gone through aga n h The hen bird meanwhile looks on and does nothing . T is goes on ad nauseam until the weaker bird is ﬁnally beaten

off off . altogether , and the Victor takes the hen — I think they are monogamous the tame ones I owned certainly were ; but when the young are hatched, several ” birds apparently pool their broods, and look after all

ff . indiscriminately , even if the broods are of di erent ages Guinea- Fowl are very difﬁcult to shoot when found on

- nk nk river ba s , unless you can get a gun on each ba , as at the ﬁrst shot they invariably cross to the further side ; but cur iously enough they are often singularly stupid when surprised roosting . i ni When found in open country they nvariably start run ng , i l but if you can get ahead of them on a pony , the ﬂock w l often break up and squat , and provided you have a steady

i . po nter , a good bag can then be made These occasions

NUMIDA MITRATA .

- EAST AFRICAN GUINEA BOWL .

PLA E 3 FIG . B 7 . ( T , )

Numida mitrata Pa as i oo I a s iv 1 8 Pl III , ll , Sp c . Z l . , , f c . , p . , . i ie - a t i i u n a . s s . 3 8 189 3 le C . M . 7 e Og lv Gr t , B rd Br t , XXII , p ( ) Sh l y , i s o f 1 8 a a - i . . 3 e H n s of i s B rd Afr , I , p Sh rp , d L t B rd , I , 44 i O i as 4 8 1 . e enow 3 900 V el I . p R ch , g Afr k , , p ( a An e n . . . Mus . 355 a e a Scl t r , S Afr , III , p . Scl t r St rk , i s of I V 232 B rd S . Afr . , , p .

CAL NAM E Ik ank a o f th e a esi na i es a o LO S . Z mb t v (C pt . B yd Alexander) Kanga o f the Sw aheli Mitred Guinea- Fowl of so e a s m uthor .

2 2 i DE C RIP ON . en a o in s ar a e h e e The sexe e . T S TI L gth b ut . l k ﬁgur in the P a e is C o ie o a e a F a una o S outh l t p d fr m Scl t r St rk , f A i V ol I v r ca . . f ,

D R BU N . as ic a o th e am esi to Mom asa and IST I TIO E t Afr , fr m Z b b , i e o on alon th e an a ai a qu t c mm g Ug d R lw y . Within S outh African limits it h as b een obtained by the late a o exan e a on th e an s of th e a esi C pt . B yd Al d r l g b k Z mb .

IN habits the East African Guinea~Fowl ex actly resembles

- corona ta . the Common Guinea Fowl (N . ) In East Africa it is x k e ceedingly abundant, especially along the ban s of rivers l n its and streams that are we l fri ged with bush , and harsh and unmistakeable cry can generally be heard in the early mornings . I obtained some of these birds from a London bird- dealer 19 10 in the winter of , and turned them loose about the grounds of my house in Ireland in the beginning of the following spring . They showed no inclination to breed , but stayed close to the poultry-ho uses and fed with the

88 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

hi all r c ckens . They were not at quar elsome, and invariably

r r x di ﬂed when attacked by any other bi d, thei e traor nary

speed and activity taking them out of the way like a ﬂash . In the summer I had some ﬁf ty or six ty young ones of the

- melea ris domestic Guinea Fowl (N . g ) hatched out under hens, and as soon as they were a few weeks old the East hi Africans adopted them , and took them all to roost gh up

u if in a huge elm . I am quite s re they would breed given freedom on a large farm , and they form a very handsome addition to the poultry-yard with their brilliant blue necks and very erect carriage .

itrata I regret to say that the only hen bird I had of N . m l l l was weak y when bought, and ﬁna ly died of dec ine ; but I feel sur e that vigorous hens would breed freely if allowed to be at liberty.

itr ta wr x N . m a Since starting to ite my e periences of , I found

r i that the male bi ds pa red w ith the domestic variety, and I have a number of hybrid chicks . Guinea- Fow l have a curious habit of shampooing or mas

’ saging one another s heads and necks . I have often watched a bird having his wattles and loose skin gently nibbled all

r r over by a f iend , while the recipient of these favou s stood with half - closed eyes and an irresistibly comical look of intense l enjoyment disp ayed in his attitude .

8 9 NUMIDA BAPILL-OSA

- B DAMARALAND GUINEA OWL .

FI PLATE 3 G . ( 7 ,

4 4 i rn onastb . 1 89 1 5 i ill sa e eno O . . umida a o M d . N p p , R ch w, , , p ; , 4 1 c a e nn i 44 900 A . V O el as . . . g Afr k , I , p ( S l t r , S Afr l a i s o f 55 a e St . I 3 . us . II . M , , p Sc t r St rk , B rd S Afr , IV , IL

’ i s of 8 a d a a . . . 5 1 umida c ronata a e s e . N o , Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , p (p rt) ( 1 87 5 - 84)

- i s i us i i an at . 3 8 M . . Numida cornuta e C . 7 , Og lv Gr t , B rd Br t , XXII , p ( 1 893)

2 2 in Th e s exes are a i e The R P N en a o . . DE SC I TIO . L gth b ut l k e in the P a e is c o ie o a e a F auna o ﬁgur l t p d fr m Scl t r St rk , f l uth A rica V o . . S o f , IV

i i s n e esen a i e of N n R B N s s the e e . coro a ta DIST I UTIO . Th w t r r pr t t v , and is o n in e an o - es i a and ex en s its an e f u d G rm S uth w t Afr c , t d r g i a es in o the a a a i n some pl c t K l h r .

E ff I HAV met, in various parts of Africa , with ﬁve di erent

- x species of Guinea Fowl, and all of them had e actly the

same ways and habits . I have not personally met with this

species, but it so nearly resembles the ordinary South African

bird, that its habits are doubtless the same . In the F auna of S outh Africa it is stated that a nest of n n x this bird was found in February contai i g si teen eggs , the nest was in a hollow in the sand and the eggs were thick

n S . in the shell . creamy brow , without darker pots Some of these were hatched out under a hen and the following year ” a pair of these young bred and produced nine young ones . This contradicts the prevalent idea that these birds will not

breed in captivity .

P L AT E 38

w ’ C . G Da es del éx Co I m p

C R E S T E G U I N EA- FO L UTTERA EDO UARDI M a le D W (G ) . AR I GUTTERA EDOU D .

- CRESTED GUINEA BOWL .

(PLATE

i 1 86 6 n 7 . 3 . umida edouardi a a b o n . . N , H rtl u , J ur Or th , p

’ i f 58 d a a s o . . . 5 verreaur i a e s e . Numida , Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , p m an in a a 1 0 1 8 5 Nico s in on o s N . 9 ( 7 ll Egl gt , Sp rt t l , p i s 1 65 1 892 o o a Na a . ( ) W dw rd , t l B rd , p ’ i f 586 Numida ucherani a e s ed . a a s o . . . p , Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr , p man in 1 0 1 8 5 ic o s in on o s . . . 9 ( 7 N ll Egl gt , Sp rt S Afr , p ( 1 892)

- i i s 382 i an at s . Mu . . Guttera edouardi i e C . , Og lv Gr t , B rd Br t , XXII , p 355 c a e a e Ann . . . Mus . . Scl t r , S Afr , III , p S l t r i f 233 and a s o . . St rk , B rd Afr , IV , p

l i as 45 1 1 900 Guttera cristata edouardi ei enow V O e . , R ch , g Afr k , I , p (

am i na i es a o Ink ank atori of th e es . LOCAL NAM E S . Z b t v (C pt B yd an r Alex de ) . i 2 i The sexes are a e . N en 0 n . D E SCRIPTIO . L gth l k

N Th e es e inea - Fo is o n o n in one or DISTR IBUTIO . Cr t d Gu wl f u d ly tw o is ic s in Na a w ence its an e ex en s to the am esi d tr t t l , h r g t d Z b lan s imi a s ecies is o n in an a a e . and Nyass d . A v ry l r p f u d Ug d

x l TH E late Capt . Boyd Ale ander gives the fol owing account of the Crested Guinea- Fowl By nature this bird is far more

- i ra ta N . m t retiring than the Helmeted Guinea Fowl ( ) , and possesses even a greater aptitude for running , seldom making i use of ﬂ ght . “ We were fortunate enough to obtain two specimens of this species near the river above Zumbo , while on another l occasion , whi e pitching our tent for the night , we heard a

Off ﬂock close to the water , and not far another one, but of

9 1 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

N . mitrata the Helmeted species ( ), enabling us to observe to ni ff a cety the di erence between the cries of the two species .

The call of the former , otherwise the same as the latter, was varied now and then by a tremulous whistle towards nightfall and kept up long after night had set in . The Zambesi natives look upon this bird with a certain i amount of superstition . Noth ng would induce them to eat it, and they told us that its ﬂesh was poisonous .

I obtained a pair of these birds, through the courtesy of

Dr . P Gunning, from the retoria Zoo, and for some weeks kept them in a large wire enclosure at Bloemfontein . I put up some leafy branches, under which they ran and hid at the least alarm . I found them shy and very silent, but they

r th ove well until I took them to England, when I gave them i ’ to the Zoolog cal Gardens in Regent s Park . In captivity I fed them on all or any sort of grain and on broken up bread, and they were fond of ground nuts and broken biscuits .

A I PTEROCLES GUTTUR L S .

- YELLOW THROATED SANDGROUSE .

(PLATE

’ r i R e x 6 a e s Pter cles uttu alis . E ed . Afr . 5 o en . . g , Sm th , p p C t , p Sh rp a a i 1 - 4 ico s in on f . . 5 8 5 8 ed . s o 77 N . 7 L y rd B rd S Afr , p ( ) ll Egl gt

i - at i s in 1 1 2 i e an . o s an . C Sp rt m S Afr . , p . Og lv Gr t , B rd i us 25 1 893 eic eno V O el i as Br t . M . , XXII , p . ( ) R h w, g Afr k , I , 305 1 900- 01 a e s 353 1 905 Ann . . . u . . . M p ( ) Scl t r , S Afr , III , p ( ) a e a i f 1 8 s o . . . 7 Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr , IV , p

M E ac a ri f AL A N P t s o the D . LO C N . ht j utch

E I P The i s e are an a a e and e a e . D SCR TI ON . b rd ﬁgur d dult m l f m l The o n i s are i e th e ema e the ans e se an s y u g b rd l k f l , but tr v r b d on th e an e are s a e and ne m tl m ll r ﬁ r . en a o 1 1 in L gth b ut .

D R The e o - oa e an o se as s dis o e e IST IBUTI ON . Y ll w thr t d S dgr u w ﬁr t c v r d in th e esen s e i ic of th e ans aa o th e pr t Ru t nburg D str t Tr v l . Fr m western Trans vaal it extends to B ec huanaland and th e northern a a a i i e e on our i i s it is eco e o N assaland K l h r , wh l b y d l m t r rd d fr m y , a aila a i i i t a ea M s nd nd th e mo n a ns of ss n a . oes no , u t Aby It d pp r to b e o n in D ama a an a e s o it on th e oa e een f u d r l d . I h v h t r d b tw Fo a and Nai o i in i is as i a a e no ex e rt H ll r b Br t h E t Afr c , but h v p rience with this sp ecies within our limits on th e wing it much e in f r m ded me o our R ed Grouse .

MR C TE l - . S LA R writes that the Yel ow throated Sandgrouse is usually found in companies of from three to twelve individuals, on bare ground not far from water, where it feeds on seeds l and sma l bulbous roots . When crouched on the ground it is very difﬁcult to detect i when ﬂushed it does not run, but rises at once w th a

r whi ring sound made by the wings . The note, only

s . heard on the wing , is a short and somewhat har h Tweet

9 3 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

L i ike other Sandgrouse, it resorts to water da ly , but not at such regular hours as other species . These Sandgrouse are specially fond of the grain of Kafﬁr

O in l corn, and ften feed arge numbers in ﬁelds ready for l reaping . In consequence perhaps of this, they are genera ly

- l O very good eating, especially when sp it pen and grilled with butter .

r w M H . A . Bryden rites to me as follows In crossing the Kalahari Desert I found at the water pits, where Sandgrouse abounded, that as a general rule the

D - bicinctus dr i ouble banded species ( P . ) came to nk chieﬂy in

- the evening, towards dusk . The Yellow throated species

P . utturalis ( g ) , though sometimes seen at water about the mid

dl e 8 10 a . m . of the afternoon, drank mainly between and ,

did . as the Namaqua Sandgrouse Generally speaking, the

P varie atus Variegated Sandgrouse ( . g ) came to water quite early in the morning, just after sunrise . Sometimes however, M l as at aqua, these last birds drank ater , and were to be seen from eight till nearly ten in the morning . At this desert pool ’ M T Klak ane of aqua, a temporary water only, and at , a per

- alach e Botletli manent water pit, both between P w and the

- River , we saw Namaqua, Variegated , and Yellow throated

Sandgrouse in very large numbers at early morning. At ’ T Klak ane and other waters large numbers o f the Double

all banded species dr ank towards dusk . I saw these Sand grouse also in considerable numbers at the large pan at

M ark eren g, South Kalahari, and they were plentiful on

letli Bot . the River, Ngamiland

utturalis P . g is much the biggest and heaviest of the four

- u species, and in the deep chocolate or red brown colo ring of

- the under parts of the body and in its cry, resembles most nearly the family of the Red Grouse of Scotland . The rare

9 4

GAME - BIRD S OF SOUTH AFRICA

water . The Namaqua and Variegated species mingled freely , as they came up and circled incessantly round about the pool at an immense rate of speed . Suddenly a combined band would swerve towards that end of the pool farthest from our waggons, and with one swoop of i ncredible swiftness descend upon the margin . The rustle

o r of their wings as they enacted this man euv e, was most

. i r nk remarkable If not disturbed, the lead ng birds d a off r quickly and ﬂew , when others took thei places ; the watering process being gone through with perfect order and without overcrowding . If, however , my companion or I our i moved with guns in that direction, the whole ﬂ ght would

r r rise with the loud whirr of hund eds of pai s of wings, and

r air i o or ci cle in the round the pool again, unt l a safer pp t i - un ty presented itself for drinking . The Yellow throated Sandgrouse held together in ﬂocks of from a dozen to thirty ’ h ‘ S dr n or forty . T ey tooped together at the water and a k ’ 8 10 r frequently . From o clock till close on this wonde ful ﬂight continued ; as birds drank and departed others were constantly arriving to take their places . I should judge that the average time spent by each bir d at and around the water ” was from twenty minutes to half an hour . in The eggs, usually three number, are laid on the bare

- ground among the grass . They are dusky tawny, marked

s with lines and blotche of umber , forming a zone toward the base , and measure about by in .

9 6

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

and the place resounded with their clear , loud call of ” - - lit - n i Chock lit, chock , chock lit . If scared whe s tting

nf - - they utter a co used Gug gug gug note, and when once

n r - fairly on the wing break i to thei Chock lit note . All Sandgrouse give good dr iven shots if the gunner is content to lie well out in the veldt at least two hundred yards

- from their watering places, as they have then not begun to slacken speed to pitch at the water . Shooting them near i the water I consider mere poach ng and butchery . Layard describes the eggs as pale dull greenish- brown

i i a nd spotted with light brown and ind st nct purple , further spotted with dark brown .

9 8

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

sun, remaining in a sleepy condition during most of the day . ﬁ When on the ground it is dif cult to see them , and one almost

treads upon them before they rise , startling one with their

ﬂare of wings and noisy Chuk, chuk notes, which are

given out simultaneously and with great zest . Out of the breeding season they go together in large

r batches, sometimes thi ty or forty in one ﬂock .

In habits they might almost be termed crepuscular .

Every evening, as regular as clockwork and just as dusk is

n n r n - closi g in , they wi g thei way to their wateri g spots ,

while, should the night be moonlit, they feed in the Vicinity ” of water . M My friend ajor Sparrow, found this bird breeding in June

in Portuguese East Africa, and writes that it is very partial l to red soi with which its eggs completely harmonise .

r r M . Sclater described the eggs as being th ee or four in

number, and laid on the bare ground among short grass .

- n k They are brownish pi , spotted and blotched all over ,

especially at the thicker end, with a darker shade of the

. 93 . same colour . They measure about by in

100

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

it and there moves about in small and large parties, and acts precisely as does the Spotted Sandgrouse, with which it

- mingles at the morning and evening drink ing time .

varie atus It can be distinguished on the wing from P . g quite ” il Kelk ie eas y by its loud note of Vane, whence its Dutch name .

am a uas i N q are very fast on the wing , but are eas ly shot owing to their punctual habits of drinking morning and evening at the same hours .

O They are rather tough and tasteless to eat , in my pinion, i and are best bo led and served with white sauce .

O Of - They lay two blong eggs a light cream colour, which measure about by in. The nest is a mere depression in the ground, with a few bits of dry grass in it .

102

t - 85 Da w es del Wi he rby Co . imp

S P EC KL E D Pl C EO N O R B U S H - DO V E ( C OLUMBA PHAEONO TA) M a le

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

Dur ing the late Boer war I saw a large colony o f these pigeons breeding in the corner of a verandah belonging to some missionaries in the western Transvaal . They were at complete liberty, and I was curious to know how they were nf ﬁrst established . I was i ormed that some domestic pigeons

e - had be n in the verandah corner ﬁrst, and their eggs

- replaced by Bush Dove eggs, and that the young had not nl o y bred freely in due course, but had brought wild birds back with them . I have found this bird breeding practicall y all the year ’ . . D a vies s x i round This is also Sergt e per ence, and he tells

i all me he has shot young b rds at times of the year .

They feed on all or any grain, and often do great damage when the crops are ripening . Very pretty shooting may be had by lying up at the edge of the crops when the birds are ﬂi htin l g g in to feed, especia ly if a few live decoys be placed

i - w thin gun shot . For this purpose any ordinary pigeon will do . “ — a The coo is quite distinct hoarse, rough note utterly di fferent from that of the domestic pigeon, but the courting attitudes are very similar .

. u The eggs are always two, and pure white They meas re

by in .

1 04

PL AT E 44

\V I IlIeI l) y C u I m p

O L IV E PIG EO N (COLU MB 4 4 RQ U 4 TRIX) M a le

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

C lu . a mbus . ( p ) It is a partial migrant, and as its food di supplies ripen , it moves from district to strict . It feeds

- l - ﬁ s on wild olives and wi d g .

- P Olive igeons are very strong on the wing, and carry a lot

x - of shot . They are e cellent eating .

They are often found in large ﬂocks, and when shooting for the pot a good bag can at times be made by waiting under the trees in which they feed .

and They frequently make a great noise when feeding, the heavy ﬂapping of their wings as they balance themselves

Sl on some ender twig to reach the berries on the end , can be

off heard a considerable way . I have never heard this Pigeon make any note except in ” - the breeding season , when the males utter a deep Coo .

When in good plumage and freshly shot, these birds have a beautiful plum - like bloom over all the feathers ; but this dl s comes off at once with han ing , so that pre erved skins

- r appear much more red than freshly killed bi ds .

- - They are tree breeders and not rock breeders, making the P ’ usual type of igeon s nest of a few loose sticks, and laying two white eggs measuring about by in .

106

P L AT E 45

“ W itlnerli I m C Dame del y Co . p

D E LALAND E ’ S R E E N P I N VINAGO DELALAND G G EO ( /I) M a le .

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA with the leaves that it is a matter of great difﬁ cul ty to see them . When the tree in which they are feeding is approached

Sit n i they generally quite still, trusti g to the r green colour to hide them eff ectually ; but if they do ﬂy they whizz out l ni x ike light ng, and give an e ceedingly twisty and difﬁcult shot . The note is a curious whistle ending in a sharp Turr ” - turr turr .

T e F auna o out A r According to Mr. Sclater ( h f S h f ica) Ayres found a nest of this species in the M agaliesbergen towards 1882 the end of November , ; it was composed of the usual

10 . layer of sticks , and was not more than ft from the ground dl it contained a young bird , and an ad ed white egg . l This Pigeon is near y invariably fat, and is tender and well

ﬂavoured.

108

PLAT E 46a

Im \V l l l\ e l l) y . p . C . G Davies del . Co

- TROPT RUS GAMBEN IS l S P U R W I NG E D G O O S E (PLEC E S ) M a e .

i Wi l liei b D mes del y Co imp .

S PU R - I NG E G O O S E PLEC TROPTERUS GAMBENS IS M a le W D ( ) .

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

the in s and o e s on the sides the si es w g , two th r of rump ; d of the ea e o is a e is s e ies a ies h d y ll w h thro t whit . Th p c v r much indi i a in si e so e i s ein so s a a e oo v du lly z , m b rd b g m ll th t th y l k a os ik e a iff e en s e ies lm t l d r t p c .

D R B N x en s o a ia on the es and o o an o n IST I UTIO . E t d fr m G mb w t K rd f i i a a s the White N le throughout th e whole of Afr c southw rd .

is o mon eno in th e an e ive o on and ans aa It c m ugh Or g R r C l y Tr v l , e ana an and a on th e a esi and is not o en o n B chu l d , l g Z mb , ft f u d to the so of th e an e i e uth Or g R v r .

SPU R - WI NG are residents of most of the large marshes and

l . akes, and are often to be found living on the rivers also

By day they stay on the pans, washing , sleeping and resting, but towards nightfall they ﬂight out into the grassy ﬁelds and grain crops, and do an immense amount of damage, treading down the standing corn with their huge feet and wasting and spoiling much more than they eat . Sergt . Davies writes me that when the corn is in stoc k s they perch on them and greedily strip the grain from the top Sheaves, and he tells me he has seen many of the stooks completely ruined by these birds .

These geese are easy to keep in captivity, but if the young birds are obtained whilst still in the downy stage, care should be taken not to let them swim in water or they are sure to get cramp ; they will feed readily on any grain which has been previously soaked in water , as well as on soft bread, and they should, if possible, have access to young grass, as like all true geese they get much of their food by grazing . When they are adult it is not safe to keep them with smaller

are and weaker birds, as they very powerful and have rather an uncertain temper .

1 10 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

- They nest in long grass or in thick reed beds, laying from six M to ten eggs . Eggs now in the South African useum

- are smooth , shining , ivory white, measure about

1 1 1 E TR PTER R PL C O US NIGE .

- BLACK SPUR WINGED GOOSE .

(PLATE

PlectrO terus ni er a e P o oo Soc 1 8 4 l al . P . V II S . . 7 . p g , S , Z , 7 , p 7 ; cl t r r c l , vadori at i s i C . . Mus . II 50 e e , B rd Br t , XXV , p . Sh ll y ,

i s of - is i . I 1 0 a a f s 1 . 7 e n o B rd Afr , , p Sh rp , H d L t B rd , , 208 a Ann us 11 1 5 1 . e . 3 . . M . . p Scl t r , S Afr , , p c a e 85 a i s of 1 1 8 S l t r St rk , B rd S . Afr . , IV , p .

PlectrO terus ambensis ni er ei en O el f i as I 1 36 V . p g g , R ch ow, g A r k , , p ( 1900

As f or P a C AL NAM E S . . mbensis LO g .

i i an a a i a in a The e s e . s w s DE SCRI PTION . b rd ﬁgur d dult m l Th dr w g made from a bird which I bought as a gosling in Potchefstroom ﬁve ea s a o and i is s i 1 9 1 2 ivin in No o k y r g , wh ch t ll ( ) l g rf l , n an E gl d .

en a o 40 in is s e ies is s as a ia e in siz e L gth b ut . Th p c ju t v r bl a P ambensis no o ein exa simila s tw . . g , b g ctly r

r a e s s e s a P ni er and P a mbensis are M . W . L . Scl t r u p ct th t . g . g iff e en o ms of the sa e e ies and a th e iff e en es are d r t f r m Sp c , th t d r c due to a e the esen i is the o on one of th e an e g , but pr t b rd c mm Or g i e o on and th e rans aa e e a e seen e in o s R v r C l y T v l , wh r I h v th m ﬂ ck to as an as a f nd e in n e on ese up m y couple o hu r d umb r . Am g th ﬂocks there would p erhap s be three or four birds apparently ans e in to th e es i ion of P ambensis if the a e eo w r g d cr pt . g , but g th ry e c o an o e wer rrect there would surely be m y m r .

F e th e i e is at eas ﬁve ea s old and h as not urth r , b rd ﬁgur d l t y r , e e n o an e y t b gu t ch g .

c onsi e a P ni er is a oo s e ies a it a es I d r th t . g g d p c , but th t gr d in o P ambensis th e e no it is o n and o a t . g furth r rth f u d , pr b bly in e ee s i it t rbr d w th .

TH E S E geese are among the most common water - fowl in

South Africa .

1 12

GAM E - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

x i P . ambens s Their habits are e actly the same as those of g , a few of which may sometimes be found mingled in their

ﬂocks .

i is The r ﬂight powerful but not very fast, and their note , which is usually uttered when they are on the wing , is a

i - cur ously weak sort of whistle which sounds like Cow whit , ” - cow whit , sometimes clear and sometimes rather harsh .

- They have none of the trumpet like , loud clanging notes of i our northern b rds , but like them they can carry away an immense amount of shot .

ﬂi htin di - - When g g out to their fee ng grounds, Spur wing n i l nearly invariably recon o tre the ground careful y , and on i alighting stand on the alert and look round in every d rection .

hr When satisﬁed that no danger t eatens, they post sentries

- in the same way that wild geese do at home, and then start

- r Young birds are not bad eating , but the old bi ds are quite i i impossible, as they seem to rema n hard and tough unt l they decompose .

Eggs sent me from Vredefort Road, Orange River Colony,

ambe i were not to be distinguished from eggs of P . g ns s . These eggs were found in nests built of loose heaps of dr y grass among the big stones at the foot of the kopje . The

l w - site was thick y studded ith prickly pear bushes, and was not far from water .

1 13 AR IDI R I E A TA S C O N S M L NONO . K N O B J HL L E D D U C K .

(PLATE

an In 1 2 l r mela n tus Penn d . oo . Anse o . P . , t , Z l , p , XI

’ ' a e s e a a ir s ar i i nis a rica na d . 2 S c d or of . 5 . . 7 f , Sh rp L y rd B d S Afr , p 1 875 Nico s in on o s an in 1 23 ( ll Egl gt , Sp rt m S . Afr . , p . ( 1 892 )

i nis mela nona ta alvadori at ir i S arcid or S . s C . us . 54 M . , , B d Br t , XXVII , p

a Ann . . us . e . M . 35 1 a e Scl t r, S Afr , III , p Scl t r i s f Af r and a o . . 1 1 9 St rk , B rd S , IV , p .

i i nis mela notus eic eno V O el i as 1 2 1 00 S ark d or . 9 9 , R h w, g Afr k , I, p (

- f a AL E o o so e o s . LOC NAM . C mb duck m uth r

DE CR P N Th e a e e esen s a e a e an a a S I TIO . pl t r pr t f m l d m le in full ee in - m a e i th e n of o an e- e l o ea e s on th br d g plu g , w th bu ch r g y l w f th r e si e of th e o e - a o en a the ma e c a ies at a season d l w r bd m th t l rr th t , and th e excrescence that h e c arries on the bill at its full develop a i a n en . The e w s o s o e a e e . D ies m t m l b rd ﬁgur d h t by S rgt v , and the ex es en e w as awn to s a e hi o e i es cr c c dr c l by m . At th r t m of the ea th e ex es en e Is n ons ic s The o n i s y r cr c c I c p uou . y u g b rd ese e the e a e a e no e al i oss r mbl f m l , but h v m t l c gl .

'en a o 3 1 in L gth b ut .

D R BU e are tw o s ecies of no - i l N . e e D o IST I TIO Th r p K b b l d uck , b th e simi a one of i is o n all o e o me i a i e v ry l r , wh ch f u d v r S uth A r c , wh l the o e the s ec of our d awin is is i e o o th r , ubj t r g , d tr but d thr ugh ut i a an so e n sia Afr c d uth r A .

esi es ein o n in ndia a and e on th e no B d b g f u d I , Burm , C yl , K b bill ed Duck is also found throughout Af rica from Gambia and a o s o w a s as e as in a a a a m s . Kh rt u uth rd , w ll M d g c r

a e s o it in i is as ica on th e asin is P a ea I h v h t Br t h E t Afr U G hu l t u , a e not met wi it in o ica s a oc w as but h v th S uth Afr . A m ll ﬂ k met i in Pon o an out of w i w as s o the a e i w th d l d , h ch h t m l b rd no i l a w l ustr ted .

1 1 4

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

A E I H V not met with this bird in South Africa, and there is it not much of interest on record about . It is usually met

in V - with flocks where plentiful, flying in shaped formation, and it not infrequently perches on dead trees, at which times it is not diffi cult to approach ; it is said by sportsmen to be

x di - i h e cee ngly good eat ng, but those which I ate in Britis

East Africa were not particularly so .

Mr . . r ourna l o the S outh C H . Taylor w ites in the J f ’ A rican r it i 190 f O n holog sts Union for 7 , that in the Amers f oort - District (South east Transvaal) they are resident , and breed regularly during the months of November and

December , making a nest in the long grass, usually at ” the side of a vlei or near a pan . In one instance on

R olf ontein the farm , they used to nest amongst the stones

- on a low lying kopje, but of recent years have been too much disturbed in this locality, and apparently no longer breed there . They are very destructive to lands freshly sown with O mealies or ats, rooting up the grain and doing much d in D amage . A short while ago, the Ermelo istrict, four of these ducks were caught in traps put into a patch of for age

r for this pu pose .

Mr r . Taylor fu ther wr ites that he has seen them in great in M numbers on the Que Que River atabeleland, where n they are migratory , arrivi g in September and staying all i through the ra ny season . L r ﬂi ht ike other duck and geese, they shed all thei g in feathers in the spring, and when this state, being unable to ﬂy, are easily caught .

r M . Sclater states that it apparently breeds in Bechuana land, though no one has hitherto given any account of the ’ laau . r B w s matter Eggs laid in captivity in M . aviaries in

1 15 GAM E - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

l - Ho land were yellowish white, and rather more pointed at one end than at the other . There are six eggs of this species in the British Museum

n in vam oland obtai ed by Anderson at Ondonga, O p , in Feb ru ar y ; they are described as being smooth , rather glossy,

l - and pale ye lowish white, and measure from to by

to in.

1 1 6

NETTOPUS AURITUS . D W A R F G O O S E

(PL ATE

l 4 8 n 0 1 83 . l n . . . 77 7 a r a P . E urita s Bodd e t . Ana s a , , T b , p , l ,

’ i Af r 50 1 8 5 - 84 f . . . 7 7 t us auritus a e s ed . a a s o Ne ta p , Sh rp L y rd B rd S , p ( ) i no O el i as 1 2 1 900 e e w V . 7 R ch , g Afr k , I , p ( 1 22 u s aurilia s Ni o s in on o sman in . . . Nettap , c ll Egl gt , Sp rt S Afr , p ( I sszi 65 1 895 l i us I . ita s a adori at i s . Netto us aur S v C . . M p , B rd Br t , XXV I , p ( ) 5 1 a e a a Ann . us II I 3 c e . . M . . , S l t r , S Afr , , p Scl t r St rk i of 1 22 s . . . B rd S Afr , IV , p i 208 N etto us auritus oo a Na a s . pp , W dw rd , t l B rd , p

I P N Th e i s e are an a ma e and e a e. DE SCR TIO . b rd ﬁgur d dult l f m l en a o 1 2 in L gth b ut % .

- a N c ro R B U N T is nea e a ion of th e n ian o on e . o DIST I TIO . h r r l t I d C tt T l ( mandelianus is o n all o e ica sou of am ia on th e es ) f u d v r Afr , th G b w t ,

an o a i an on th eas is a s o a esi en in Ma a asca . d S m l l d e t . It l r d t d g r a a a it is a as al isi o to th e o on and on Mr . e s es Scl t r t t th t c u v t r C l y , ly met wi a on th e co as and a e i e s it is mo e fre th l g t l rg r r v r , but r i quently to b e seen in Natal and th e Transvaal up to th e Z ambes . He also s ays that it is not recorded from German S outh - west i ai a a a i c a o en i o e N m . Afr , th ugh f rly pl t ful b ut L k g

ee s e im ens e e s o on th e mtumvumu i e Pon o Thr p c w r h t U R v r , d in a d o e e 1 908 an o e n N m . l d , dur g Oct b r v b r ,

I D O not quite understand why this little bird is called a

all ll Goose at . A geese are naturally grazing birds, and

di r do not ve unless wounded or pressed by a bi d of prey , di while the Dwarf Goose ves as easily as a Pochard, and gets L most of its food from underneath the surface . On ake Victoria Nyanz a this bir d may often be seen in ﬂocks

1 17 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

n r vi l numberi g up to thi ty or forty, di ng and p aying about, v n and beha i g very much like Pochards . They ﬂy well and

- n . di fast, and are very good eati g They are not fﬁcult to shoot , as they generally allow a canoe to be paddled within range before they begin to get uneasy . Apparently no observations have yet been made on the

- breeding habits of this bird .

i o o N . c r mande i nu l a s D r. erdon Of the Indian spec es , J savs l It breeds general y in holes in old trees , often at some distance from the water, occasionally in ruined houses , e i te n t mples , old ch mneys , and the like, laying eight to f l (sometimes, it is stated , as many as ﬁ teen) smal ” eggs .

1 18

D V ID ATA DEN ROCYGNA U .

- - WHITE FACED TREE DUCK .

(PLATE

inn a s s at 205 e N . . Anas vidua ta . , L u , Sy t , I , p

’ a a a i f 5 1 Af r . ta e s ed . s o 7 endroc na vidua . . D yg , Sh rp L y rd B rd S , p i l in on s an in 1 26 1 8 5 N c o s o m . . . ( 7 l Egl gt , Sp rt S Afr , p r a 1 24 1 900 oo a 1 892 ei eno o e ik s . ( ) R ch w, V g l Af , I , p ( W dw rd , 1 8 a nn Af r us II I 5 1 a a i s 209 99 e A . 3 N . . . M . . t l B rd , p ( ) Scl t r , S , , p a i s f Af r 1 24 1 905 c a e o . . I V . ( ) S l t r St rk , B rd S , , p

AL AM E S a a of the Ma a e e Mas e D c LOC N . Id d t b l (Chubb) ; k d u k o e a o s o f s m uth r .

ird e is a e a e Th e sexes are a ik e The . DE CR P N . S I TIO b ﬁgur d f m l l , a eas e a o 1 9 in nd m ur b ut .

i i an a r tha the o Po N . e thro lma D STR BUT N . e I I IO L k S uth Afr c ch rd ( y p ), is i has a mos em a a e an e and is o n o the th b rd t r rk bl r g , f u d thr ugh ea e a of o e i a o the es n ies to th e gr t r p rt S uth Am r c , fr m W t I d en ines and in i a o th e a ia and a o so Arg t , Afr c fr m G mb Kh rt um uth a l as in Ma a asc a a s s e . w rd , w l d g r

r a e s a es a is is a a e D c in o i a ex e M . Scl t r t t th t th r r u k S uth Afr c c pt in th e a e e ions and on the am esi and a to th e a e l k r g Z b , th t up d t of his book ( 1 906) it had not b een met with within th e limits of a e o n or in ea ama ualand or ama an C p C lo y Gr t N q D ral d .

h e s eci en i s a e w as aine in i a an e T p m llu tr t d obt d Gr qu l d by S rgt . Da vies C . G . .

I S r TH bi d is a rare Visitor to southern Africa, though common enough in the Zambesi and Lake Ngami regions . These are its strongholds, and it is to be found there in considerable

ﬂocks, and sometimes when the rains have been very heavy, in multitudes .

It is said by the Woodwards not to perch on trees, but some

1 1 9 GAME -BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA birds I saw in captivity that had full use of their w ings i certa nly did so, and Reichenow also states that they have this habit in the wild state . It has a clear whistling cry and is often kept in collections of ornamental water - fowl both in England and on the n r i Conti ent . It is a peaceful little bi d in captiv ty, but i often succumbs to hard frost, and requ res protection in severe weather .

r M . n wr M . C . F . Swyn erton ites I have found these ducks exceedingly plentiful on the pools between Chibabava and M angunde ( Gaz aland) in pairs or in parties of from a li dozen upwards . They have two whist ng notes, or more rarely three, frequently uttered by the whole ﬂock together

- as it ﬂies along, sometimes in more or less wedge formation, s not us ometimes . They were easy to shoot, for when ﬂ hed they would circle backwards and forwards two or three times

r over the swamp , and seldom went more than a few hund ed

exa yards before again descending . One of the stomachs

i a m ned contained small larva and grit, and in both crop ” and stomach were large quantities of a small black seed.

There is no record of eggs having been taken in Africa, but eggs from Madagascar in the British Museum are glossy and

- cream coloured , and measure about by in .

1 20

PLAT E 5 1

' W l l li ei b St I m y Co . p

H IS T L I NG T R E E - U C K EN RO Y NA FUL VA M W D (D D C G ) a le . D F DEN ROCYGNA ULVA .

- WHISTLING TREE DUCK .

(PLATE

a 5 0 lva e in s t . I . 3 Anas u . N f , Gm l , Sy t , , p i i 14 l a ri at us . 9 Dendroc na ulva Sa v do C . s . . yc f , , B rd Br t M , XXVII , p 5 1 a e a Ann . us 3 e . . M . . Scl t r , S Afr , III , p Scl t r i of IV 1 25 and a s . . . St rk , B rd S Afr , , p

l i a 1 26 1 900 Dendroc na ulva eic eno V O e s . yg f , R h w, g Afr k , I , p (

The a e e es n a a a e The sexes are R I P e s n . DE SC TION . pl t r pr t dult m l a e en a o 20 in lik . L gth b ut .

Th i e w as i e in i a an IB e . DISTR U TION . b rd ﬁgur d k ll d Gr qu l d

r a e w i es a is D c h s a e ema a e dis M . Scl t r r t th t th u k a v ry r rk bl conn ec e an e ex en in o e o on inen s it is to be t d r g , t d g v r f ur c t t ; found in the southern p art of the United States and Mexico in No me ica o V enezulea and Pe to th e en ine in rth A r , fr m ru Arg t o m e ica om o o an so a s a on th e Ni e a e S uth A r , fr K rd f uthw rd l g l V ll y o N assaland to a e N a i in ica in Ma a asc a thr ugh y L k g m Afr , d g r , and na in n ia a and e on ﬁ lly I d , Burm h , C yl .

A E l I H V not personal y met with this bird in South Africa, but have often shot it in Ceylon . There they inhabit all the larger lakes , and have a curious whistling cry which is in i i ff uttered often when ﬂight, produc ng a w ld e ect when a big ﬂock is passing overhead .

r i They perch f eely on trees, and I bel eve make use of old

r r r i - nests of crows and other bi ds du ing thei breed ng season . r n i They ﬂy fai ly slowly and with much beati gs of w ngs, and are therefore easy to shoot . They are of little use when

n r shot, being ra k and ﬁshy in ﬂavou .

1 21 A IA ALOPOCHEN EGYPT CUS . E G YP T I A N G O O S E

(PLATE

Aria s ae tiaca innae s s . Nat. I . 1 97 gyp , L u , Sy t , , p

’ hana l ex ae tiaca a e s ed a a ir s of 74 C o . . . 7 p gyp , Sh rp L y rd B d S . Afr , p 1 i in on o s an in 1 22 875 N o s . . . ( c ll Egl gt , Sp rt m S Afr , p ( 1 892)

tiacus al adori at i s i us 1 6 h ex e v . 7 C enaZO a S C . M . . p gyp , , B rd Br t , XXVII , p a a a i 209 1 899 ei eno oo N s . W dw rd , t l B rd , p ( ) R ch w,

i as 1 1 1 0 a us . O el . 3 90 e Ann V . . . M g Afr k , I , p ( Scl t r , S Afr , 52 a e a i 1 28 III . 3 ds of . . IV . , p Scl t r St rk , B r S Afr , , p ( 1 906)

AL AM E e ans of the D Ni e oose of so e LOC N S . B rg G utch l G m a o s Esik wi of Kaiﬁ rs awr enc e a name also a ie uth r ; (L ) , ppl d t e - in e oose efalva of as a to h Spur w g d G ; L B utos (Murr y) .

h a e e esen s an a a e h e sexes are De RIPTI ON T e P . T sc . l t r pr t dult m l i a t e e an a a - o o re a o n s e h s d e . like . Y u g b rd h v l g b k cl y c l u d en a o 2 in L gth b ut 7 .

N The ian oose is oun all o e ri a so DISTR IBUTIO . Egypt G f d v r Af c uth of the a a a and its an e ex en s as far to th e no - eas as S h r , r g t d rth t Pa es ine l t .

In o i a it is i e om on and is e a l at o e on S uth Afr c qu t c m , qu l y h m h e i a h a s and a s es the c oas s and a on t e s s on t e e m . t l g r v r , l k r h

I S r TH bi d is well kn own to most people . It breeds very freely in captivity , and nearly every piece of ornamental w ater in public parks in the British Isles has a pair or so of them as inh abitants . In the tame state it hybridises freely

ff Mr . w rl tes with many and very di erent species . Sclater that it has frequently hybridised with the Spur - winged

M l Ana s boscas l Goose and even with the al ard ( ) , whi e I have

1 22

GAME - BIRD S OF SOUTH AFRICA seen hybrids between it and the Ruddy Sheld- drake ( Casarea c s r Bernicla a a ea ) to which it is nearly akin, the Canada Goose ( anadensis i c ) , and some beaut ful hybrids between it and the

- a rna ta dorna European Sheld drake ( T do ) . i When breeding in conﬁn ement these b rds are very noisy,

- quarrelsome, and dangerous to other water fowl, but are courageous to a degree and ﬁrm believers in the bold ff ” i hi o ensive, for they will promptly attack anyth ng w ch r they even think might attack their goslings . Thei strength l and fury is so great , too, that they general y get the best of it . In the wild state in South Africa they are familiar residents l on most large pans and marshes , but are shy and wi d, and take a tremendous lot of shot . They generally go about in i l i pairs, and when ﬂying utter a loud cackl ng cal wh ch ” Anderson describes as a barking quack .

As a sporting bird they are not worth shooting, their ﬂesh being tough and rank ; even young ones are not very

' dr . I once r palatable saw a bi d picked up after a ive, and at some previous date it had been hit by a bullet at the base of l u the lower mandible, which , as wel as most of the tong e ,

r had been carried almost enti ely away . Nevertheless the wound had completely healed, and the bird was fat and in good condition .

r Egyp tian Geese live nearly enti ely on grass and herbage, and are most persistent grazers . At certain times of the year large numbers assemble at i ﬂi ht the big marshes and lakes, to breed and cast the r g feathers .

- I have found the nests among thick rushes and water weeds,

iff - but sometimes quite d erent nesting places are chosen .

l l tree i They wil nest in a hole or in a hol ow . Th s, however,

1 2 3 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

n r is not un atu al, as the Egyptian Goose is obviously a near

- - all . relative of the Sheld drakes, which are hole breeders This n relationship is clearly show in voice and attitude, and in the ﬁrst plumage of the downy chicks and the freedom with which they interbreed .

r M . Atmore relates that he found nests of the Egyptian Goose built on broad ledges of rock 200 feet above the banks it M of the G our z River in the ossel Bay District, and that this site was amicably shared with numerous Vultur es ( Gyps ’ him ul r in kolbii) . A Boer showed an old V tu e s nest an 0 3 . acacia tree some ft high on the banks of the Vaal River, which he assur ed him was occupied every year by a Berg ” Gans . P This Goose is somewhat scarce in ondoland, and has only been found on the Umzimvubu River, where it breeds . The natives often catch the young ones and bring them in for ll sale . They get very tame, but are inclined to bu y other poultry . The eggs are creamy- white and small for the size of the

in. bir d. They measure about by

124

m W l % b . . “mu del . i lie y Co i m p

S O UT H A F R IC AN S H IELD - D RAK E ( CASARCA CAN/1) M a le CASAROA CANA .

ELD- SOUTH AFRICAN SII DRAKE .

( PLAT E S 53 [M AL E ] AN D 54

Anas cana me in s a t 5 10 . N . . , G l , Sy t , I , p

’ Casarea ca na ar e s a i - 4 d . a s o f 53 1 8 5 8 e . . . 7 7 , Sh p L y rd B rd S Afr , p ( ) Nicolls lin on o sman in 1 29 1892 a a Eg gt , Sp rt S . Afr . , p . ( ) S lv o i at i s ri 82 ic en C . . Mus . 1 e ow d r , B rd B t , XXVII , p . R h , O l i as 1 a V c I . 3 1 00 c e Ann us 7 9 . . . M . g Afr k , , p ( S l t r , S Afr , 1 11 352 c a i . a ds of 1 3 1 e IV . , p S l t r St rk , B r S . Afr . , , p ( 1 906)

CAL e - d O NAM E . een of th L B rg e Dutch .

DE C R P N a e ema e and i as in es S I TIO . Adult m l , f l , ch ck ﬁgur . en f ma e a o 26 in h a is s i a e o T e em e s . L gth l b ut . f l l ghtly m ll r

R B N Th e o i an e - dra o as a e es i e DIST I UTIO . S uth Afr c Sh ld k h v ry r tr ct d an e and so far h as on een met i in a e o on the r g , ly b w th C p C l y , an e i e o on and the ans aa and h as not een Or g R v r C l y Tr v l , b e o e om—Na a o esia o r e an o u - s ica m e . r c rd d fr t l , Rh d G r S th w t Afr

C LATER auna o MR . S states in the fourth volume of the F f

S outh A rica i f , that th s species is considered to be a scarce

imund it M . Se bird , but essrs Grant and found very common all the year round at D eelfontein in the centre of the Karroo . N ear Bloemfontein it is by no means rare, and I have seen

- it the whole year round on dams of suitable size . Sheld drake, x i l e cept when actually breed ng, are usually in smal parties ’ six of ﬁve or , presumably the last season s brood . I have i i invariably found them wild and susp c ous, and they are

r always the ﬁ st to leave when the shooting begins . Before I went to South Africa I had often heard that this species was frequently caught young and kept in captivity by the Boers . This rumour caused me many weary journeys ,

1 25 GAME - BIR D S OF SOUTH AFRICA which nearly always ended in the disappoin ting View of some young Egyptian Geese . Once, however , a young Boer

l r m came in and to d me that he had a pai on his far . I took i him out and showed him a tame Egyptian Goose I had, ask ng him if r k it was the same as the bi ds he was tal ing about . After ﬁr m assurances that his were quite different I rode some twenty miles to his farm , and after the customary coffee and handshaking all round and the usual volley of questions l about my fami y, age, where I came from , etc . , I went to see

- th e c . r Berg ende They were a lovely pai , but alas were

ll - fu winged, and by repeated efforts to catch them they i had been made too shy for their timid ty to be overcome .

Try as we could I had to go home without them , and shortly r afterwards they were accidentally shot . Thei owner told me that he had surprised an old female Sheld -dr ake leading her youngsters across the veldt ; that they were just

r hatched, and that he had caught two of them , the bi ds i in quest on . u The sual cry is a loud nasal How, but they have many

varied notes . When they ﬂight from one dam to another ,

r l or when one bi d is separated from its mate, the note general y ” used is the loud sonorous How . The cry is very much

- i C . rut la like that of the Indian Ruddy Sheld drake ( ) , and those who kn ow this bird will be struck at once by the resemblance

between the two species .

- Like all other Sheld drake, the South African species breeds

in holes . The nests have been found among rocks, but near

- Bloemfontein they usually breed in ant bear holes .

- in The eggs are creamy white, and measure to by .

- i di - i i n Sheld drake are most n fferent eat ng, be ng both ra k and

tough ; but they are so w ild and take such care of themselves , a that they seldom get in position to appe r on the table .

1 26

\V l 8L l l l el l) C O . y i m p .

E L LO - B IL L E UC K ANAS UN ULATA M l Y W D D ( D ) a e .

GAME- BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

— n They are double brooded , raisi g one brood in the spring and one in the autumn . Broods have been found in East

Griqualand in April . It is easy to tell the birds that have

h a young or eggs , as they ave a way of drawing you a from the vicinity by pretending they are w ounded and cannot ﬂy , ﬂapping along the surface of the water in a helpless manner until you are some distance from their treasures, when they rise and make swiftly off . M They have very much the habits of the European allard ,

i e haunting marshes and lakes and avoiding runn ng wat r . The voice of the female resembles that of the Mallard fem ale ; the note of the male is also similar to that of the male

M . allard, but rather deeper and louder in tone They are often found in fairly large ﬂocks e xcept when breeding, when of course they are in pairs . When breeding three or four amorous males wil l often chase a female round and round high up in the air .

They soon get tame when not much molested , but if u frequently shot at they circle ro nd once or twice , and i l then clear right out , and w l probably not return for a day or so .

When the grain crops are ripe . they ﬂight out in the ni M l eve ng like a lard , feed , and return in the morning to i sleep , wash and rest . A little careful observation w ll soon

Show the lines of the ﬂight , but it is very necessary that the gunner Should be well hidden , and not move until the birds are w ell over and in shot .

o . 4 They require fairly heavy shot (N is best) , and ﬂy i d w strongly and fast . They d ve and hi e so ell , that a winged bird that has fallen in water is generall y a lost one . I sent a pair of these birds home to the Zoological Society l of London three years ago , and one of them is sti l alive

1 28 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA and has hybridised this year with Anas melleri from Mada

as car S g , a closely related pecies , as there was no female of i i h s own kind w th which he could be mated . In conﬁnement they quickly become tame , and are very easy to manage , feeding on any kind of grain , soaked in water for preference ,

- bread and any green stuff , such as lettuce or chopped cabbage .

I found one or two nests near Potchefstroom . They were situated on the bank s o f a small stream which ran into a bi i i g rrigat on dam , and in each case were well concealed in a clump of thick grass .

- The eggs are oval, of a greenish cream colour . Seven of them averaged by in .

1 29 P ANAS S ARSA .

BLACK DUCK .

(PL ATE

’ i a s ar t . . Af r us Anas sa C . M . . 36 a e s ed p , Sm th , S , p Sh rp .

a i f Af r 1 - a s o . . . 756 875 84 Ni o l s in on L y rd B rd S , p ( ) c l Egl gt , o s an in 1 24 18 4 l a i . . . 9 Sa v dor a i i t. s . Sp rt m S Afr , p ) , C B rd Br t

Mus . II . 2 13 1 895 oo a Na a i s 2 10 1 899 , XXV , p ( ) W dw rd , t l B rd , p . ( ) eic en e ik as o o I . 1 1 5 1 900 a e Ann R h w, V g l Afr , , p ( Scl t r , . S . 2 . us 35 1 905 a e a M . . i f s o . . I V Afr , III , p ( ) Scl t r St rk , B rd S Afr , , 1 36 1 906 p . ( )

B a a of the ax sa an OCAL NAM E . Am o d l s a na e i L S d d Zu u , m wh ch is a a i t e s e ies ls o ppl ed o oth r p c .

The i re is a a e r in E R P N . The sexes a e a i e D SC I TIO b rd ﬁgu d m l . l k ma e th e emale is a i e s a le ld i s a e a plu g , but f l ttl m l r . O b rd h v o inen no o n th e en of th e win en of a a e pr m t k b b d g . L gth m l i 2 lb The n 2 e . o ma a a ei 3 in . W ght ; y u g y lw ys be told by th r

- a s whitish under p rt . The white p atch on the neck varies from a nea rly complete o l a to a few i e ea e s and is so e imes om e e a sen c l r wh t f th r , m t c pl t ly b t .

R I B N The ac D ex en s f o ssinia a e DI ST UTIO . Bl k uck t d r m Aby to C p o on o all the eas e n a s of the o n In o C l y thr ugh t r p rt c u try . S uth Af i a it is ne e a n an is wi e dis i e o r c v r bu d t , but d ly tr but d thr ugh a e n Na a th e ans aa and ia o o o es . C p C l y , t l, Tr v l Rh d

TH E Black Duck is hardly ever to be found on vleis or l dams, and is essentia ly a haunter of rivers and streams . I have seen them as a rule in pairs and sometimes in small n i l ﬂocks numberi g a dozen, wh ch I suppose were the adu t

- r u . u bi ds with their grown p broods They feed, like E ropean ll in n Ma ard, chieﬂy at night, but rainy weather often duri g

D i s l the day as well . ur ng the heat of the day they u ual y rest and Sleep in some shady place under overhanging branches

1 30

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA l or amongst the reeds , and wi l then often allow themselves w tak n to be passed ithout g to ﬂight, trusting to escape l observation by keeping stil . ri Sergt . Davies w tes me that they are easy to shoot as they rise, but have a most annoying habit of ﬂying low over the if surface of the water the reeds are high , until well out of shot .

- They feed on seeds of water plants and on insects, but when the native crops are ripe they are often shot with their crops

l . fu l of grain, and at this season they get very fat P Near otchefstroom they breed in August and September , but the broods are never big, owing no doubt to the number

- i of monitor lizards, water mongooses, and other verm n that

- frequent their breeding haunts .

The Black Duck is easily tamed and bears captivity well, but it was not until 19 1 1 that the ﬁr st bird reached Europe ’ x i alive, this e ample form ng part of the King s South African collection .

l ourna l o t e r r . . . A ican rnit M L E Tay or in the J f h S . f O h olo ica l Union D 1906 g for ecember, , gives a photograph of a nest of this bird taken in July which contained eleven eggs, and was concealed in rushes and built on the ground about two feet above the water . They resembled those of

Anas undula ta r , and measu ed about by in .

1 31 P NETTION CA ENSE .

CAPE TEAL .

(PLATE

Anas ca ensis e in s at 2 i . N . 5 e c eno p , Gm l , Sy t , I , p . 7 R h w, O el i as 1 20 1 900 V . g Afr k , I , p (

’ dula ca ens s a e s a i uer ue i ed . a s of . 758 Q q p , Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr . , p . 1 8 5 i o l s in on a i 7 N . o s n n 1 2 . . . 7 ( c l Egl gt Sp rt m S Afr , p ( 1 892)

ttion ca ense Salvadori at i s i us 2 Ne C . . M . 59 1 895 p , , B rd Br t , XXVII , p . ( ) 2 c a e Ann . . . Mus . III . 35 a e a S l t r , S Afr , , p Scl t r St rk , i of 1 8 s . . . 3 B rd S Afr , IV , p

CAL AM E ea - eend e of th e D a e a e LO N S . T l j utch (Scl t r) C p i eon of c a e W g S l t r .

D E CR P N Th e ir re is a a e and w as s o e . S I TIO . b d ﬁgu d m l , h t by S rgt Da ies and c a e no es a en of th e c o o s of th e so a s v , r ful t t k l ur ft p rt in Th e i i es a on e The sexes are alik e en a o 1 9 . t c . . L gth b ut r d of these birds vary from light hazel and yell ow to deep orange ittle ale (L d ) .

R N The a e ea see s to be a a e i e e e e . DIST IBUTIO . C p T l m r r b rd v rywh r Its range extends from Cap e Colony northwards through Nyassa an and an a to oa in o i a it h as not een l d Ug d Sh , but S uth Afr c b i e o m et i in th e eas e n o ion of th e a e o on h th rt w th t r p rt C p C l y , ia Na a or o es . t l , Rh d A f ew ﬂocks have been o b served in th e Dordrecht Distric t of a e o on and a sin e i w as s een on th e Utumvumu i e C p C l y , gl b rd R v r

in De em e 1 909 . c b r , I s hould not be surprised if th e Cap e Teal were not so rare after all it is o a o en onf use i the R ed - i and is ; pr b bly ft c d w th b ll , put a as s c into th e b g u h .

E wi ] I HAV never met th the Cape Tea , and very little was

a i Li known of its nesting and other h bits unt l eut . ’ P Littledale 1 st n ir L f H . A . . , Ki g s Own Yorksh e ight In antry,

13 2

GAM E- BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

r l e A rican Ornitholo ical published in the J ou na of th S . f g i 1908 Un on for April, , the following notes I have found the Cape Widgeon ( Teal) to be compara ’ tivel i k s n y common at Van W j Vlei, near Car arvon, Cape

Colony, and also I have seen a good number on most of the dams in the neighbourhood . ’ Van Wijk s Vlei is probably the largest permanent sheet of water in Cape Colony, and certainly the largest in Great

Bushm anl and . 1908 This year [ ] the dam is fairly full , but

l are . not so ful as to cover the islands, of which there several 22 The dam was built about years ago, and in a couple of years

acres were submerged, which is rather less than its

10 . present extent . In circuit it is about miles round The islands are about 50 to 150 yards in diameter . I have found three nests of the identity of which I am i certain . There are others which contain s milar eggs, but on which I have not seen the birds actually sitting .

The nests do not vary much . In two cases they were placed under very thin and sc anty bushes which did not conceal them from view . The third was very well hidden under a very thick bush . The ﬁrst two nests were merely round holes in i the ground, obviously scraped by this or some other b rd. 9 The holes were inches in diameter and 3 inches deep .

The bottom was almost bare earth, the few feathers and scraps of down that there were below looking as if they had got there accidentally . When the bird is sitting the eggs are encircled 1 1 with a ring of down about g inches broad, which the bird overlaps, and thus keeps the eggs warm . Before leaving the nest the bird pulls the ring of down over the eggs and makes a thick pad of it, thus leaving the ifﬁ eggs protected from cold and rather d cult to ﬁnd . If the bir d is put up off the nest she will leave the eggs uncovered

1 33 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

in n n ir but one i stance I saw the bird ﬂy rou d in a c cle, and returning hover over the nest as if she wanted to secur e them v n 20 in before lea i g, although I was within yards a punt at

s r a i the time . Thi idea seemed at ﬁ st sight l ttle too ’ i S intelligent, but the following w ll how that the above is quite probable : I had noticed a Widgeon [Teal] several t e n i w s ﬂyi g round a certa n island, and both myself and my companion were sure that there was a nest there . We hunted everywhere, but found only one likely egg , and that broken open and quite fresh . Days later I stumbled on the nest ’ containing nine Widgeon s eggs and one old Berg Gans’ egg

en ae tiacus (Alapoch gyp ) under a very thick bush . I was ll watching a nest at the time belonging to some Gu , and used to come and have a look at it every now and then . Each time I landed on the island the Widgeon left her nest a few minutes after my arrival , and on each occasion the eggs were i covered over carefull y . Eventually I was watch ng her on

10 . her nest, and was within feet of her She was asleep or

did . O dozing, and not mind me at all I pened my camera to take a photograph of her . This startled her and she i left the nest . The eggs were uncovered, the r ng of down bein g all round them . This nest was on the site of an old w Goose nest . The eggs were resting on the do n and feathers,

old which had evidently been the old Goose nest, hence the in n Goose egg which was included her sitti g .

r in i The cock bi d does not, I think , take any part ncuba ’ tion . The hens breasts are picked quite bare of down, but ’ - the contour feathers are not picked out . The cock bir d s i breasts Show no signs of this . One meets s ngle cock birds scattered about on the dam , and sometimes can get near f enough to shoot one . I have never found a hen alone . Be ore n r I realiz ed that they were breedi g I shot several bi ds, and

1 34

GAM E-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

i l r It w l be seen that clutches vary in colou , size, and shape, but eggs of the clutch match each other fairly well .

The Cape Teal is good eating, but not to be compared

- with the Red Bill .

136

C . G . Davies del . Wi l lierb y Co . imp

H O T T E NT O T T EAL (NETTI N PUNC TA TUM l O ) M a e .

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

- l - l l shots at Yellow bil , Red bil , etc . , we waded in to col ect the slain . Among the many Coots and Dabchicks that were in swimming about a startled fashion, I suddenly noticed

i x some Hottentots, but it was not unt l I e amined them with

l ﬁeld- l a pair of powerfu glasses that I cou d make them out .

There were over a dozen of them , and not one had risen in

S i . pite of the shoot ng and general uproar However , they rose quickly and easily enough when we began to pay Special L e attention to them . ike all Teal they fly at great spe d, with many of the curious twists and curls in their flight that i make the European b rd so difficult a target . You may ll r ki with the fi st barrel, but at the report of the gun the r off all emainder of the flock shoots at sorts of angles, and at

ﬁne i a speed, and you soon real se that the quickness of the ” r bi d deceives the eye . l They would make most delightfu pets , and would look

al - very well in a collection of ornament water fowl , but up to the present I do not think they have been brought to Europe alive . i Eggs in the British Museum , obta ned by Anderson in

a oland in Ov mp are described as oval shape, moderately - l glossy, and of a pale cream co our . They measure by

in .

1 38

C . G Davies del . Wi l herb 3: y Co Imp .

R E D- B IL LE D PINTAIL (PAECILONE TTA ERYTHRORH YNCHA F ) e m ale .

- GAME BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA .

r ll dr m bi ds they happened to fa on y land, and I caught the l i and had them tame for some time . They quick y lost the r n i wild ess, and fed with the ord nary domestic ducks around the house .

- l n r The Red bi l has been imported i to Eu ope, and has bred in L in i i the Zoological Gardens in ondon, but the l v ng state

x - it is very e pensive to buy, being to day worth some ﬁve or six pounds per pair .

D P bahamensis It is a near relation of the Bahama uck ( . ) , hi which is found in the West Indian Islands , and w ch is a common bird in collections of ornamental water - fowl in

Europe .

- The note of the Red bill is a rather low, harsh quack, but it is seldom uttered . D M From what Sergt . avies writes me , arch appears to

- be the principal breeding month in Griqualand , as during it he came across nests and broods of young of this species ,

- - l i P . as well as Ye low b lls , ochards , and White backed Ducks Red- bill usually nest among thick herbage and grass growing on the borders of lakes and ponds . The nest is

’ i r bu lt of grass, eeds or sedges, and lined with down from the breast of the female . The eggs are from eight to ten

itz imm ons i in number , and are described by F S as be ng of a light greenish-white colour examples in the South African

- w i Museum are creamy bro n and glossy ; fa rly oval in shape,

r in and measu e by .

1 40

GAME -BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA breeder . Eggs are seldom found in the British Isles before

l Ma i the midd e of y, and in high latitudes not unt l the middl e of June . Seebohm writes that the nest is generally found in the open, well concealed in long grass or heath , and is very hi ul . skilf ly made The depression in w ch it is placed, if deep , nl S n ll is o y lenderly li ed with dead grass or sedge but if sha ow, a considerable amount of material is collected to give the required depth .

b ufﬁsh - The eggs are pale white, with the faintest possible

. in trace of olive They vary length from to in . and in breadth from to The nest- dow n like that

all of nearly ducks, has pale centres, but it may be recog nised by its very conspicuous white tips .

1 42

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

- l P - P of Yellow bi l or ochard like race horses, and neither ochard

- nor Yellow bill are by any means slow .

M Catalo ue Eggs, described in the British useum g , measure

- i . by n , and are delicate cream colour tinged with green .

144

. . \V | l he1 b O I m G Davies del y C , p .

S O UT H AFR IC AN PO C HAR NYROCA ER YTHROPHTHALMA Ma le n D ( ) a d Fem ale .

GAME -BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

e u u u r on the sp c l m showing p st ongly . From my notes, l however , I do not ﬁnd that they are especial y fast , and they i i take a considerable t me gett ng under way , squattering

ur u i - along the s face of the water in tr e div ng duck fashion . Most dams in South Africa have a large retaining wall at one end, and if the guns take stand under this cover and the

dr n duck are iven over , some very sporti g shots may be had. l P Stil the ochard is a poor fowl to eat , tasting strongly of mud fﬁ ff but as my o ce sta apparently thought them good, I usually shot these birds when possible . I saw many hundreds on some of the lakes in British East

Africa, and one afternoon while watching some of them I had a most extraordinary number of different species of birds h ad in View at the same time . I binoculars, and was hidden ; P l and within one hundred yards of me swam a huge e ican, and spread over the surface of the lake were parties of Yellow

ill - P - b ed Duck , Red billed intail, Red knobbed Coots and

- r Egyptian Geese, while some Spur winged Geese and a pai of Saddle- billed Storks and a party of Stilts moved about on the banks near at hand . D P Sergt . avies writes to me of the South African ochard as foll ows I formerly thought that these birds frequented only the

all deeper pans, but I have lately found them in sorts of places, v in l l e en shal ow ittle rain pools on the ﬂats . They usually go in ﬂocks , but when breeding they are in pairs .

l r Wounded birds dive wel , and are a fea ful trouble to retrieve . “ I found a nest on the 24th April containing nine eggs

- r of a creamy white colou , the nest was in a clump of grass about twenty yards from the water , and was neatly made of i grass and a l ttle down .

146 GAME -BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

u I did not take the eggs, so cannot give meas rements . ” The Duck nearly let me catch her before she left the nest . The Pochard was found nesting on the Berg river in

r L M . September by ayard, who states that the eggs were from ﬁve to eight in number . Three of these are still in the M l South African useum ; they are broad, a most regular

- u ovals, smooth and moderately glossy , of a pale creamy colo r , and measure by in. D r Sergt . avies fu ther remarks that he noticed the eyes of i a male b rd he killed were red when he picked it up , but that l they changed some time after death to ye low , which was the r all M colou of the eyes in the others he killed. y own experience, however , is that the eyes of some twenty k l males I il ed were red, resembling exactly the colour of a ripe red currant .

1 47 THALASSIORNIS LEUCONOTA.

- WHITE BACKE D DUCK .

(PLATE

i a la l uco tus t. . . Mus Cla n u e no . 37 C . g , Sm th , S Afr , p

’ i ni u a e s a a ir s f halas s or s le conota ed . o . . 61 T . 7 , Sh rp L y rd B d S Afr , p 1 8 5 ico s in on o s n in 1 24 7 N a . . . ( ll Egl gt , Sp rt m S Afr , p l a i a i i 4 a dor t . s . Mus II . 6 S v C . 3 , B rd Br t , XXV , p ir s 2 1 2 a e nn oo a Na a d . A . . W dw rd , t l B , p Scl t r , S Afr . 52 a a ir us II I 3 e s of S . . IV M . . , p S S k , d f , , cl t r t r B A r 1 50 1 906 p . ( )

i o as 1 06 1 00 Thala ssiornis leuconotus e eno e ik . 9 , R ch w, V g l Afr , I , p (

The i r e is a a e The sexes are a The R N ik e . DE SC IPTIO . b rd ﬁgu d m l . l o n ir s are ess o a eo s and o o wn on the a o en y u g b d l chr c u , m re br bd m . a 1 in Length b out 7 .

The i e- a e D is on ne to i a an DI STR IBUTION . Wh t b ck d uck c ﬁ d Afr c d a a as a is n in ssinia as ica N assaland M . o d g c r It f u d Aby , E t Afr , y , a a a a as an to C p e C olony nd s f r west Lo go . Within South African limits it is fairly widely distributed where i a i i r a e a s a i h a no s e on i ons ex s M . s e t s t een u t bl c d t t . Scl t r t t th t b o n in o esia or on the am esi a it h as o a f u d Rh d Z b , but th t pr b bly e n e oo e b e ov rl k d .

E R T A IE S to S G . D V writes me as follows These curious little birds are not uncommon on some of the pans here in l Griqualand, and are usually to be found in smal ﬂocks of four n or ﬁve individuals . They are wonderful divers, goi g under

di off water without a ripple . They rise rea ly the water , although they paddle along with their feet for a little way , and when once fairly on the wing ﬂy at a great pace, their

i i all i feet stick ng out far beyond their ta l, and the time wh le n ﬂying they utter their cur ious whistli g note .

1 48

GAME - BIRDS OF S OUTH AFRICA

3rd 1 9 10. I found a nest on April , It was in a clump of 3 rushes In about feet of water , and was made chieﬂy of rushes ; it had a rather deep cup , without any down, and

r . contained seven eggs of a warm, rufous colou In measure M ments they agreed with those in the South African useum , by female a leaving ” nest .

149 ER ISMATURA MAOCOA . M A C C O A D U C K

(PLATE

i a s t . Mu 3 x ura ma cc a . . . o C . 7 O y , Sm th , S Afr , p ’ i Erismatura ma ccoa a e s ed . a a s of 62 , Sh rp L y rd B rd S . Afr . , p . 7 1 875 Nic o l s lin on o sman in 1 25 ( l Eg gt , Sp rt S . Afr . , p . l a ri at i s i u a do . . s I I 44 S v C M . 8 , B rd Br t , XXV , p . Af i as 1 05 1 00 ei eno V O el . 9 a e Ann R ch w, g r k , I , p ( Scl t r , . 52 1905 a e a Mus . III . 3 i . . k s of . S Afr , , p ( ) Scl t r St r , B rd S . Afr , N 1 53 , p .

DE C R I P The i s u e are an a a e N . m and e a e S TIO b rd ﬁg r d dult l f m l . T e e are s e e a s ec ies of Erisma tura is is the on h r v r l p , but th ly i an e esen a i e South Afr c r pr t t v . Mac co a diff er from most duck in that they have very thick ne s and en skirmin em th e ea and ne c an be ne ck , wh g th h d ck tur d in i i e easil en 1 8 » in s de out qu t y . L gth 5 .

D R N is is one of the a es if not ui e h a BU . t e es of IST I TIO Th r r t , q t r r t, th e o i an s om its a i s and th e na e of S uth Afr c duck , but fr h b t tur its aun s it is i e ossi e a it is o mone an is s os h t qu t p bl th t c m r th upp ed .

Da ies w i es me a h e h as seen and sh o i on e . . t S rgt . C G v r t th t t a io s eis and a e s in as i a an h as een v r u vl w t r E t Gr qu l d . It b s o a t Ma eten in as o an and it a ea s to be s a in h t f g B ut l d , pp r p r gly dis i e in s i a e a es ro o a e o on a e tr but d u t bl pl c th ugh ut C p C l y . I h v s een s ins o aine o a e Nai as a in i is as ica k bt d fr m L k v h Br t h E t Afr .

’ l lo et s o ec o s M s an i aine S t es s . Se mund o Co . gg c ll t r , r Gr t , bt d it nea ee f on ein r D l t .

TH E Maccoa Duck is a splendid d iver and most reluctant

it is to ﬂy ; but by no means follows that it unable to do so , as it whizzes along at a great pace once it is on the wing .

- - It feeds chieﬂy on water snails, water beetles, etc . D Sergt . C . G . avies, writing from East Griqualand in March ,

1 50

GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

1 19 10, says have lately come across a pan in which

cc there were quite a dozen Ma oa Duck . They refused to ﬂy and only dived but were on the whole very tame and

I shot a good pair . The female contained an egg ready for laying and quite enormous for the size of the bird. It was of the usual duck l in x shape, but the shel somewhat rough te ture, and of a

- i bluish wh te colour , the bluish colour most noticeable when wet . “ Unfortunately I had no time to hunt for nests , and the egg got smashed on the way home . Apparently this is the ﬁrst time the egg of this bird has been properly identiﬁed . He writes further

I did not hear these duck utter any note, and when l i swimming about casual y , they sw m much as other duck , perhaps rather deeper, but when alarmed they look very i curious , as they then S nk the body very deep so that scarcely

the i more than head and lower back and ta l are to be seen, the tail sticking straight up in the air at right angles to the water .

1 5 1 HAGEDASHIA HAGEDA H S .

AD H ADA IBIS .

(PLATE

Tanta lus ha edash a a In Orn II d . 09 g , L th m, . , , p . 7

’ Ha eda shia ha eda h a e s d a a i f s e . s o . 73 9 g g , Sh rp L y rd B rd S Afr . , p . 1 8 5 a at i s i 7 e C . . Mus 1 9 1 898 ( Sh rp . B rd Br t . , XXVI , p . ( ) oo a Na a i s 19 1 a e Ann W dw rd , t l B rd , p . Scl t r, . S . Afr . 1 Mus . . 35 a e a i s of 1 , III , p Scl t r St rk , B rd S . Afr . , V , 100 p .

Theristicus ha eda sh ei eno o e i as I 325 1 900 g , R ch w, V g l Afr k , , p . (

In a ane a OCAL i. e . is f ax a L NAM E . g g ( Bl ck Ib ) o the Am os a (St mford) .

The i e is an a e a a E C R P N e . The sexes re D S I TIO . b rd ﬁgur d dult f m l a i e and eas e a o 30 in l k , m ur b ut .

R B N The a a a is o n o o the o e of the DIST I UTIO . H d d f u d thr ugh ut wh l io ian e ion o ene a o o an and o a il an Eth p r g , fr m S g l , K rd f , S m l d a to a e o on In o i a the i is a a southw rds C p C l y . S uth Afr c b rd pp r ently conﬁned to the well- wooded and watered districts of the so and eas oas s and oes not oc on the i a ea of uth t c t , d cur h gh pl t u the en e of th e oun nor did n e son o e a oss it in c tr c try , A d r c m cr e an o - es ica a o he met it in th e a e N ami G rm S uth w t Afr , lth ugh L k g i reg on .

THE Had ada is not really a Game- bird in the strict sense of

x - i is the word, but it is most e cellent eat ng , and always a welcome addition to the bag . Nearly all my time in South Africa was spent on the High ” Veldt , so that I was not within the range of the Hadada,

1 52

GAME - BIRDS OF S OUTH AFRICA

i but I saw it qu te often in British East Africa, where it is quite common . D i i Sergt . av es has made a careful study of this b rd , and writes to me of its habits as follows i Hadada are usually found in fa r sized ﬂocks , but some i i i i t mes n pa rs or singly . They feed pr ncipally on beetles, locusts and worms which they dig up with their long beaks.

They are partial to grassy ﬂats that have been lately burnt , they also haunt cultivated lands and marshy places, and may frequently be found feeding in the bush . They go out i r to their feed ng places at the ﬁrst streak of dawn , but du ing the heat of the day generally resort to the bush or the shade in of trees along the banks of rivers . They roost trees, i generally preferring those wh ch overhang water , and are i very conservative, returning every n ght to the same tree .

i in u When feed ng the open they are us ally very wild , and the best way to shoot them is to wait at sunset under the i trees in wh ch they roost , and take them as they come in .

is s tron Their ﬂight g, and often at a great height , but they i i are not fast . The r sonorous call, from wh ch they get

is i on their name, uttered both when alarmed and wh le

n . d in the wi g They bree August and September , but I once found a nest containing nearlv ﬂedged young at i ” Chr stmas. M essrs . Anderson, Reid , and Ayres have described the

i - l nest ng habits of the Hadada . The nest is general y placed

i r in a tree overhanging water, and is a sl ght structu e built i i dr of sticks , l ned with a l ttle y grass , and rather ﬂat on the i l ut. top , so that it is surpris ng the eggs do not fal o The usual clutch consists of three eggs ; these are very diff erent

n - ff from those of the other Ibises , bei g greenish or greyish bu ,

S densely covered w ith brownish plotches and streaks . The

1 53 GAME - BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

x M e ample in the British useum , obtained by Ayres and ’ lo ue Bird E ﬁgured in the Ca ta g of s ggs , is stated to be rather

h m r roug , and much pitted with pores, and to easu e by in .

INI F S .

1 5 4

— IND E X c on tinued

cl ea ta S a tula 14 1 E ris ma tura a 1 yp , p , m ccoa , 50 Co as t Partrid e N a ta l F ranco lin 60 cr ihro htha l a Ana s 14 g ( ), y p m , , 5 coerulescens Otis 9 14 N roca 1 1 , , , y , 9, 145 T ra chelotis er throh nch A , 9 y y a , na a, 139 C olum a ar u a tr 1 P b izv 05 a ecilon etta , 139 q , uinea 103 E sik w i E tian o o se 1 22 g , ( gyp G ), li ia 103 S ur - in ed se 109 v , ( p W g G o o ), a lumbus 106 E t io ian Sni e 3 p , h p p , 3 ha eon ota 103 E u odotis ori 1 p , p k , — Co m - duck n o illed uck 1 14 E ur o e an S o eler 1 4 1 b ( K b b D ) , p h v , ' ' Co mm n e —F w l 8 5 E xc l a c r o G uin a o , a / to za a danaom , 75 o u is c mm n , C otu rnix , 73, 74 C o s otis a ra 22 F azant C a e Fran co lin 62 mp f , ( p ), cu co- tera 24 R ed - illed Fran l 58 p , ( b co in ), ’ Co ui F ran co lin o r Sh w im i 3 8 Sw a in so n s F ranco lin 69 q p , ( ) , ’ co u i F rancolinu s 38 F ranco lin Buttik o fer s 54 q , , , , P erdix 38 C a e o r Ca e P eas an t 62 , p , p h , rn u ta N u a 0 Ca e R ed—in ed co , mid , 9 p W g , 50 coromandelian us N etto us 1 1 1 18 Co ui o r Shwim i 38 , p , 7 , q , p , u res te d 4 1 coron ata , N mida , 85 , 88 , 90 C , i a ns onii G re - w in o r e rtrid e 4 C oturn x a d , 75 y g, Cap Pa g , 5 ’ ca ensis 1 H um oldt s 64 p , 7 , 73 , 77 b , ’ unis 4 ir s 4 3 comm , 73 , 7 K k , u Natal 60 cot rn ix, 73 , a ricana 3 No rt ern R ed—neck ed 68 f , 7 h , ela or u ei O ra n e R i er 5 d g g , 7 1 , 77 g v , 3 cre ita ns Oedicnemus 2 R ed - illed 58 p , , 7 b , ’ Creste d F ran co lin 4 1 S elle s 5 6 , h y ,

uin ea - F w l 1 o u t ern R ed - nec e d 66 G o , 9 S h k , ’ cuco tera Oo s otis 24 Sw ainson s 69 p , mp , , F rancolinus a ers m 58 6 1 ds p , , am aralan d uine a - Fo w l 0 a er 45 D G , 9 / , a or u ei C ot urn i 1 a rica n us 45 del g g , x, 7 , 77 j , ’ D elalande s G reen Pi eon 10 ca ensis 58 6 1 62 g , 7 p , , , clam a tor 62 dela land ii, P hala crotreron , 107 , co ui T reron , 107 q , 38 1 a rie ens is 52 54 56 Vinayo, 07 g p , , , D en roc na u l a 1 2 1 ranti 4 1 d yg f v , g , u bold ii 64 vidu a ta , 1 1 9 h m t , i r e T ick nee 2 u ula ris 54 D k k o p o C ap h , 7 j g , no r aan Blue no r a an 9 kirki 42 43 K h ( K h ), , , ' aal n o r aan 1 6 leva illamz 50 52 ( V K h ), , , a ter 29 n a ta lem is 58 60 66 W , , , , le - anded Sand ro use 99 ilea tus 4 1 D oub b g , p , r o litar ni e re at Sni e s e ha ena 4 1 43 o S y S p ( G p ), p , , ’ D uc Blac 1 30 s helle z 5 1 52 56 k , k , y , , , - illed 1 1 4 s u btor ua tus 38 Kno b b , q , ul a Ana s 1 2 1 M acco a , 1 50 f v , , e 1 D m roc na 1 2 1 Whis tlin g T re 2 1 d yg , - a ed 1 48 White b ck , e ree 1 1 Ga llina o ma or 3 1 fac d T 9 g j , ell w - ill ed o r eel ec 1 2 m edia 3 1 33 Y o b , G b , 7 , , w a r oo se 1 1 ni ré ewnis 33 D f G , 7 g p , ' ens zs Ana s 109 gamb , , as t A rican uinea—F ow l 88 P lectro terus 109 1 12 1 13 E f G , p , , , la c uck 1 0 ar ie ens is F ra ncolinus 53 54 56 B dada ( B k D ), 3 g p , , , , r ell w — illed uc 1 2 ed ouardi Gu ttera 9 1 G eel ec , o o D , 7 , b Y b k , eel Patri s S o tte d S an d ro us e cris ta ta 9 1 G h ( p g ) , , j l en ni e Pain ted Sni e 35 N u mida 9 1 G o d S p ( p ), , - w ri Bus tard 1 E tian G oose 1 22 Go m Pa au ( Ko ), gyp ,

1 56 INDEX— tin ed .con u

' Black S - w in ed 1 12 u ularis F rancolinus 54 Goose, pur g , y g , ,

Dw arf , 1 1 7 E tian 122 an a E as t Af ric an G uinea-Fowl 8 gyp , K g ( ), 8 - Kelk e Wi u N S ur in ed, 109 j j ( ama ua Sand ro us e 101 p W g — q g , ra n ti F ranc olinus 4 1 Kh o k o - a dira ( Di kk o or C a e Thicknee , , p p g ), e 1 Khuale re - in Franco G re at Snip , 3 (G y W g lin o r C ape Pa - id e 4 rid e 45 G re y wing Francolin or Cape Partr g , 5 g ), u a 103 kirki F rancolinus 42 4 guinea , C ol mb , , , , 3 ’ - w l mm 8 irk s Franco lm 43 G uinea Fo , Co on, 5 K , 1 no - illed uc 1 14 Cres te d , 9 K b b D k , m araland 90 no r aan Blac no r aan 22 D a , K h ( k K h ) , t A rican 88 W ite- uilled nor aan 24 E as f , ( h q K h ), B ’ G uttera crista ta edoua rdi, 9 1 arro w s , 1 4

edo ua rdi, 9 1 Black , 22 u u er les 3 4 - ellie 1 8 g tt ra lia, P t oc , 9 , 9 b d,

Blue, 9 H adad a I is 1 52 R ed - cres te d 20 b , , ha ed as h H a ed as hia 1 52 a al 1 6 g , g , V , T n ta lu s 1 52 W ite - uill ed 24 a , h q , eris tic zw 1 52 o ri B tard 1 Th , K us , h a e sh 1 2 ori E w l Haged as hia g da , 5 k , podotis , l 4 l Ha plop elia arva ta , 4 Otis , , 26 e uail 1 K ue - Kue Ca e uail H arl quin Q , 7 ( p Q ), 73 He i odius hottentottus 83 Lem ao E t io ian Sni e m p , ( h p p ), 33 ’ na nus 8 1 a eri Kuech i ir s Fran 4 , K ( K k co lin ), 3 vi ors i 1 6 K ur rich ane B utto n - il Heterotetrax g , Q ua , 77 ill R edw in Ca e R ed - n ed Francolin Kw artel Ca e u ail 3 H g ( p Wi g ), ( p Q ), 7 50

t - il la r a ta H a l l H o ttento t B u to n Q ua , 83 v , p ope ia , 44 e l 1 Leeb a S ec led Pi 1 T a , 37 ( p k geon ), 03 hottento tta uer uedu la 137 Le a lva E tian o se 1 22 , Q q , / ( gyp G o ), 1 le u ra n r Tum ix, 8 , 83 p a , O tygis , 77 He x odius 83 Tut-ni hottento ttus , mip , x, 77 hu oldti F rancolinus 64 Le uath a H arle uin uail mb , , q ( q Q ), 71 P ternis tes 61 64 L eso h o Natal Fran , , ( co lin ) , 60 ’ Hum oldt s Fran co lin 64 L etsik hir S ur - in e d o o se 10 b , ( p W g G ), 9 leu conota , Th ala s s om is , 148 is H ada 1 52 leucon o us a u Ib , ad , t , Cl ng la , 148 Idada W ite - aced Tree - uc 1 19 levaillanti F ranco mus 50 52 D ) , , l ( h f k , , ’ I ub an to to D elalande s G reen Pi eo n 10 P erdi 50 j ( g ), 7 x , l l k o r aan 22 Lis Ik a la Ka u ( B ac Kn h ) , sotis melano as ter 1 8 g , E ast A rican G ui nea—Fo w l 88 li ia u Ik ank a ( f ), v , C ol mba , 103 I m an ele Co mm on G ui nea - Fo w l 8 5 Lo hotis ru cris ta 2 p g ( ), p ﬁ , 0 a ane H adada I b l S 1 52 lo a ti tis 1 Ing g ( ), v , O , 9 ato ri Cres te d G uin ea - Fow l 9 1 ludwi i N 4 I nk ank ( ), g , eotis , w li Crested Franco lin 4 1 4 I nk a ( ) , Otis , , 7 , 8, 26 ’ In u an o lo ik k o o r C a e Thicknee 27 Ludw i s Pa w 4 q q ( D p p ), g au , I sek vehle Natal F ranco l n 60 n ( i ), Iu te ndele (G re - n Franco lin or Cape Mab uanen ( Kurrich ane Butto n - uail 77 y Wi g g Q ), trid e 45 M acc 1 Par g ), oa D uck , 50 Isa w it i Ca e uail 73 ma coc a E ria a tu r 1 g y ( p Q ), , m a , 50 I sak w ats h a G re - w m F ran colin o r Ca e ura 1 ( y g p Oxy , 50 Partrid e 45 ma or Ga llina o 1 g ), j , g , 3 ’ I seme Ludw i s Paauw 4 S colo a 1 ( g ), p x, 3 I semi ori B us tard 1 Mak ow S ur - in ed o o se 10 , ( K ) ( p W g G ), 9 ’ I e l elle F r n lin 56 - - s nde e ( Sh s a co ), Mask ed uck ite aced T re e uc 1 1 y D ( Wh f D k ), I sw em e Shw im i o r C o ui Francolin 38 edia Ga ll a 1 p ( p q ), m , in go, 3 , 33 I tende le C a e R ed - n ed F ran co lin 50 melano as ter I/ is s otis 1 8 ( p Wi g ), g , , I vuk utu S e c led Pi eo n 103 1 ( p k g ), Otis , 1 8, 9 z li e Pi e n 105 s I u e ( O v o ), mela nonata S arcidiorni 1 1 4 b g , , u melanot s , Am er, 1 14

157 X—continued IND E .

1 2 melanoma, S a rkidiornis , 1 14 Otis kori, , 6 s N u i lo a ti 1 melea ri , m da 86 89 v , 9 g , , u 4 melleri, Anas , 1 29 l dwigi, , 7 , 8, 26 N u i 1 2 lano as ter 1 8 1 mitra ta , m da , 85, 88, 89 , 9 , 9 me g , , 9 tred G uin ea - F w l E t A rican uinea m crista 20 Mi o ( as f G ﬁ , s 1 6 Fow l), 88 colop acea , 1 aenegalens ie, 4 N c t Pa i s ell w - t te d S and rous e i orai 1 6 a h tr j ( Y o hr o a g ), v g , u 1 9 3 Oxy ra ma coca , 50 m d r e Na aqua Partridge (Namaq ua San g ous ), ’ Paauw Ludw i s 4 101 , g , P&tl ‘l d ro e 101 eldt or S tanl e Bus tard 7 ] 8 ( Nam aqua San g us ) , V , y , P 0 P a ecilonetta ba hamens is 140 heas an t (N a tal F rancolin ), 6 , S and r e 1 1 er throrh ncha 1 39 g o us , 0 y y , nam a u s 1 1 Pain ted Sni e 35 q a , P terocle , 0 p , P a la a s a r a ri 105 P teroclu rus 101 mb u t x, , g a lwmbus C olum a 106 T etra o, 101 p , b , nana Ta 1 a illos a N u mida 85 90 , m im, 8 p p , , , n anus us 1 Partrid e Ca e or G re - w in F ranco lin 4 , H emipodi , 8 g , p , y g , t l - i 1 Patri s G re - in Franco lin o r C a e Par Na a B utton Q ua l, 8 j ( y W g p rid e 45 Francolin , 60 g ), n a t l us 0 Peele Peele S ur - in ed G o o se 109 a ens is , F rancolim , 58, 6 , 66 ( p W g ), is P erdix co ui 38 N eot ca/ra , 7 g , lu 4 levaillantii 50 dwigi, , N et u u a 1 1 ae hama 4 1 ta p s a rili s , 7 p , N e 2 s wains onii 69 ttion ca pens e, 1 3 , u 1 wncta tum 1 37 phaeon ota , C ol mba , 03 p , N etto us u s 1 1 Pha lacrotreron dela landii 107 gn a ritu , 7 , us l 1 1 1 8 P eas ant C a e F rancolin 62 coromandelian , 7, h ( p ), ni er Plec r rus 1 1 2 R ed - illed F rancolin 58 g , t opte , ( b ), f - e F r c lin 6( ambens is 1 12 Southern R ed neck d an o ) , g , ( ’ ni r Sw ains on s F ran colin 69 g pi elmis , Ga llina go, 33 ( ), ile e 1 22 C a e or Ca e Franco lin 62 N G o o se ( E gyptian G o os ), p , p , ’ No rt e R ed - e ed F ran co lin 68 Pi eon D elalan de s G reen 107 h rn n ck , g , , nu dicollis P ternis tes 61 66 68 O live 105 , , , , S eck led 103 T etr ao, 66 p , u ilea tua F ranco linus 4 1 N mid a com u ta , 90 p , , corona ta 85 88 0 Pin tail R ed - lled o r R ed ~ ill 139 , , , 9 , bi , b , 1 P lectro tem s ambeneis 109 1 1 2 1 1 3 edou a rdi, 9 p g , , , ni er 1 1 2 meleagris , 86, 89 g , m a elli 109 mitra ta , 85, 88, 89 , 9 1 , 92 pp , a illos a 85 0 ni er 1 12 p p , , 9 g , t A rican 145 u chem ni 9 1 Po chard , So u , p , h f rn is tes ca s ta neiven ter 68 verrea uxi, 9 1 Pte , hu oldti 6 1 64 Ngraca brunnea , 1 45 mb , , a s 1 4 nudicollis 6 1 66 68 c pens i , 5 , , , 14 ca s taneiventer 6 1 68 erythrophtha lma , 1 19, 5 , ,

aw aim oni, 4 1 , 6 1 , 69 ed us ca em is 2 P terocles bicin ctus 94 99 O icnem p , 7 , , r i 2 u ttura lie 93 94 c ep ta ns , 7 g , , 2 na u a 101 s enega lens is , 9 ma q , s 4 102 vermicula tue 29 varie a tu , 9 , 97 , , g li e - Pi eon 1 05 P terocluru s na ma ua 101 O v g , q , li e D li e Pi eon 105 uckerani N u mida 9 1 O v n uif ( O v g ), p , , i n mi cta ta Anas 1 37 Orange R ver Fra colin , 53 p , , u unc N ettion 1 37 Ortygis lep rana , 77 p ta tum, ,

Otis afra , 22, 24 1 22 2 24 uail Blue 75 a/roides , 9 , 7 , , 3, Q , , r 1 1 Ca e 73 bar ovii, 3, 4 p , r H arle uin 7 1 ca/ a , 4, 7 q , B tto n 83 coeruleacens , 9 , 14 H o ttento t u

158