26 Mr. D. F. Gilfillan on some 



"with success. So liar as the Secretary Bird is concerned, I 

 have not only found the remains of Parti-idges helow its nest, 

 but on one occasion in 1891), when out Partridge-shooting on 

 the farm Conway above mentioned, I found some fresh 

 Partridge scratchings. It was a perfectly calm day, and my 

 dogs were unable to hit oti' the scent to show me in what 

 direction the birds had gone. I hunted about for the spoor, 

 and finally traced it into a cattle-path leading to a high 

 stony ridge half a mile or more away and on to a small 

 plateau on the top. When I had gone some distance along 

 the path I noticed the spoor of a large bird on top of the 

 Partridge spoor right up the ridge. As soon as. my head 

 topped the edge of the plateau a Secretary Bird flew up, 

 which I shot. I continued to follow the spoor, and just 

 beyond uhere the Secretary Bird flew up my dogs stood to 

 the Partridges. I have no doubt that the Secretary Bird 

 was after those Partridges. 



Grey Wing, as well as most Parti idges, are easily snared 

 owing to their regular habits. They nearly always follow 

 certain paths to the water, and in those parts in the Karroo 

 where I have had an opportunity of watching their habits 

 they appear to drink only once a day, at about 11 A.M. or 

 12 noon. By enticing them with wheat or katfir corn they 

 can al.-o be caught with snares. I am informed that last 

 season a considerable number of Grey Wing were brought 

 alive into Cradock by farmers for sale on the market. A 

 good many were bought up to stock some farm belonging to 

 a Johannesburg landowner. Unfortunately the mortality 

 among the birds is heavy. I have found Grey Wing in the 

 Karroo both in the mountains and in the plains, but in the 

 latter only near ridges or hills, never in the absolute flat 

 ground far away from ridges or hills except about cultivated 

 ground. 



They are monogamous^ but I have no evidence on the 

 subject as to whether they pair for life. The coveys nearly 

 always consist of the two old birds and the season's chickens. 

 When shooting in the Sneeuwberg during the trip in July 

 1906j which I have mentioned above, an exceptionally large 



