216 Mr. J. H. Gurney's List of a Collection of Birds 



reason of age, had acquired spurs resembling those of the male ; 

 and I am the more disposed to think this possible, as the same 

 distinguished naturalist, in describing an allied species {Franco- 

 linus levaillantii) , remarks, " In some specimens each sex has the 

 tarsi armed with a spur ; in others, that appendage is not found 

 in either.'^— J. H. G.] 



106. CoTURNix DACTYLisoNANS, Temm. European Quail. 

 Male. Eye and bill dark brown ; legs brownish-yellow. 



A few of these birds are to be found here all the year round, 

 nesting in the open country amongst the thick grass ; but the 

 greater part migrate hci'e in large numbers during the autumn, 

 in the months of April, May, and June, leaving again in the 

 early spring. They live entirely on insects and small seeds, are 

 extremely quick on the wing, and make a great noise when they 

 rise with their wings, similar to the Partridge, also making a 

 loud chirping noise as they fly away. 



[The specimen sent, on comparison with English specimens, 

 appears to be slightly smaller, but not otherwise to differ. — 

 J.H. G.] 



107. TuRNix LEPURANA, Smith. South African Hemipode. 

 Male. Bill dark ; legs brownish-yellow. Feeds on insects and 



seeds, principally the latter. 



These beautiful little birds appear with the preceding species, 

 but by no means in such numbers ; the sportsman will seldom 

 flush more than two at once of these, w^hilst of the others fre- 

 quently ten or twelve will rise together. 



108. EuPODOTis CAFFRA, Licht. Stanley Bustard. 



Male. Eye light brown j legs whitish. In its stomach locusts 

 and caterpillars. 



I have found sometimes good-sized snakes and lizards in these 

 birds. This specimen weighed 9 lbs. There are several kinds 

 of Bustards here, but I have not yet been able to obtain them ; 

 they vary in weight from 3 or 4 up to 30 lbs. ; and I believe 

 there is one species in the Zulu country, frequenting the 

 bush, which attains the weight of 40 lbs. The flesh of all the 

 Bustards is excellent eating ; they breed in the interior of the 

 country, only coming towards the coast as the winter approaches ; 



