IC) On the •' Woodbusli Wurblev" 



the shelter of the surrounding cover, whence 1 have never 

 yet succeeded in again flashing it. But in the hurnt areas 

 when the young grass has commenced to sprout these little 

 Hemipteryx may be observed at leisure, and their frequent 

 occurrence in such localities suggests that open, sparsely- 

 grassed veld in their chosen habitat. 



During the heat of the day they seem to hide away in 

 undiscoverable spots, but up till 10 a.m. and the evening 

 after 4 p.m. they could always be found in places such as 

 described above. 



At a spot about half a mile away from my camp I counted 

 seven of these birds on a sloping hill-side, near a stream, in 

 company with a pair of Pratincola torquata, a single Macronyx 

 croceus, and three Anthus nicholsoni. They run swiftly, pausing 

 every now and then to look around, irresistibly reminding one 

 of the Larks and Pipits. They take short flights, however, 

 more frequently than these birds. If one walks after them, but 

 not pushing them too closely, they invaribly seek to escape 

 by running along the ground. Their wonderfully protective 

 coloration and skill in hiding themselves make them exceed- 

 in oly difficult birds to pick up. Every projecting grass-tuft, 

 every tiny inequality in the surface of the ground is utilised 

 for their secretive purposes. I have frequently drawn up to 

 one of these little beings, after carefully watching it as it 

 disappeared behind a little bunch of burnt twigs, or a skeleton 

 o-rass-tuft, until I dare not advance another yard for fear of 

 dismembering it if I used my gun. There stands the tuft — 

 there is not apparently the tiniest vestige of cover for many 

 yards around, but Hemipteryx has vanished ! Sometimes by 

 following up the general direction of pursuit a tiny fawn- 

 coloured spot may be seen, apparently resting on the ground ; 

 this suddenly resolves itself into the head and neck of the 

 bird itself, looking out from behind a minute depression, 

 but it is off" again at once, running, dodging, doubling, and 

 hiding as before. If pushed, they spring up suddenly into 

 the air, pursue a quick erratic flight (about 4 feet from the 

 ground) for about 30 or 40 yards, then drop to earth again 



