NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



can realise that an increase in the number of quails 

 would bring about a corresponding decrease in insects 

 and weeds. 



The various species of partridges and pheasants 

 are also allies of the first rank in our war on insects 

 and weeds. These birds certainly provide excellent 

 sport, and their bodies are large, plump, and tender, 

 and therefore highly esteemed for food. 



We have to pay heavily for the relaxation and food 

 obtained in this way. It is on record that certain 

 Roman emperors and governors banqueted their 

 guests on dishes of prepared nightingales' tongues, 

 larks' hearts, and various small birds' brains. We of 

 to-day think those Romans of old were wickedly waste- 

 ful. Yet we are in many ways no better. The food 

 value of the body of a partridge would be equal to 

 about a pound of butcher's meat. The natural life 

 of a partridge may be estimated at twenty years, and 

 during that period it would have rendered service to 

 us to the extent of many thousands of pounds sterling. 

 Assuming a partridge only devoured the small number 

 of fifty insects a day, during the course of a life of 

 twenty years the number thus disposed of would 

 total 365,000. Presuming the partridge had been 

 shot when a year old, and these insects had succeeded 

 in reaching maturity, an average of one-half of these 

 insects would be females. These would total 182,500. 



Insects produce varying numbers of eggs, according 

 to their species. The termite (white ant) queen 

 lays several thousands of eggs every day during the 

 spring and summer seasons. At frequent intervals 



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