NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



what course to pursue in getting rid of the pest, 

 he is advised to write to the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment of the Government of the country he is 

 resident in. 



TO POISON GRAIN-EATING BIRDS 



Take two heaped teaspoonfuls of finely powdered 

 strychnine ; take two to three, or even four, gallons 

 of water in an old paraffin tin ; add 10 lbs. of sugar, 

 brown or white, and boil until consistency of very 

 thin cream. Take the syrup so made ; sprinkle the 

 powdered strychnine into it. The poison will not 

 dissolve, so stir until you think the whole mixture is 

 thoroughly permeated with strychnine. Now, pour 

 the poisoned syrup on to small quantities of finely 

 crushed mealies or wheat, and stir and mix well until 

 the particles of grain are coated with a thin covering 

 of the syrup. Leave it to dry, and it is ready. 



Three gallons of syrup will mix two sugar bags 

 full of crushed grain, and this will be enough to kill 

 all the birds for one season. In putting down the 

 bait, mix it with chaff or other grain. 



Be careful : it is a deadly concoction. 



218 



