76 



FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST 



exceedingly valuable allies to agriculture because of the 

 quantity of noxious insects and weed seeds they destroy, 

 while the harm they do is insignificant. " 



Fig. 42. — Cape Quail, nest and eggs. 



Judging from our own experience of the two species in- 

 habiting South Africa, we should say thai this is equally 

 applicable to the local birds. 



Regarding the Quail as a locust destroyer, the investiga- 

 tions of Mr. Thomsen, the then Chief Locust Officer of the 



