RAMBLES IN BRITISH BECHU AN ALAND 45 



gained the open veldt when a brace of Yaal 

 koorhaan were seen in the long grass near the 

 road. Jumping off and softly approaching them, 

 my companions secured both birds as they rose. 

 The Vaal koorhaan {Otis scolo]pacea), a very hand- 

 some bustard, somewhat larger than the black and 

 white koorhaan, enjoys a wide distribution in 

 South Africa. Not only is it found upon the 

 karroos of Cape Colony, but also in the Orange 

 Free State, Transvaal, Bechuanaland, the Kalahari, 

 and, I believe, Damaraland. Although widely 

 distributed, it is not so plentiful as Otis afroideSy 

 and in some districts seems to be absent altogether. 

 There appears to me to be a great similarity in the 

 habits of this bird (and especially in its corncrake- 

 like call) and of the Rlippell's bustard {Otis rilppelli) 

 of Wahlberg and Andersson, said to be found in 

 Namaqualand and Damaraland. Can there be 

 any confusion in the species ? The breast and 

 belly plumage of the Vaal koorhaan is glossed 

 with a beautiful pinkish hue, which unhappily 

 usually fades to white after death. I have, how- 

 ever, quite recently seen a skin brought home by 

 Mr. J. G. Millais, in which the pinkish body 

 colourincr is much more retained. 



o 



Having fastened up the brace of Vaal koorhaan, 

 we proceeded on our way, and cantered home 

 quietly through the lovely African evening, reaching 



