THE BIG GAME OF AFRICA 



they will fly a great distance, when aroused, and usu- 

 ally not be seen any more that day. These birds seem 

 to like to go by themselves, or at the most in pairs. I 

 have never seen more than two together and very rarely 

 even that. 



One day, after some successful hunting near the beau- 

 tiful Lake Elmenteita, we were returning to camp just a 

 little after four in the afternoon, when I heard a queer, 

 hissing sound somewhat behind and above my head. 

 Turning around and looking up, I saw an enormous giant 

 bustard flying at great speed at about two hundred yards* 

 height from the ground. I happened to have the .405 

 Winchester in my hand at the time, and was lucky enough 

 to hit the monstrous bird with my second shot, which 

 brought it down with a crash. In measuring it we found 

 that the spread between the wings was ten feet two inches, 

 and it weighed a little over twenty-eight pounds. Al- 

 though probably an old bird, to judge from the size, the 

 flesh was delicious and more juicy than that of the East 

 African birds in general. We took the skin off in such 

 a way as to preserve it perfectly for the museum, while 

 the meat was used for our table. 



There is also a similar, but much smaller species of 

 bustard, which is more frequently met with all over East 

 Africa than his cousin, the giant bustard. These birds 

 also seem to shun "society," as I, at least, have never seen 

 more than two together. Most often only one bird is seen, 

 walking along erect, except when picking up his food from 

 the ground. All the bustards are very good walkers and 

 will often try to run away at first, unless hotly pursued. 

 The color of the smaller bustard is also of a grayish brown 



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