GUINEA-FOWL SHOOTING 73 



Speaking of the immense gatherings of guinea-fowl 

 near small desert waters, Andersson, a very close 

 observer, describes the methodical way in which 

 these birds go to work at drinking-time. "It is 

 quite evident," he says, "that were such a mass of 

 birds to make a simultaneous rush for the precious 

 liquid, there would be much confusion, and com- 

 paratively few would be able to have their fill. But, 

 on the contrary, they go to work most economi- 

 cally and judiciously, and it is very interesting to 

 watch the process. The first-comers enter the well 

 or hole, as the case may be, and, rapidly and dexter- 

 ously taking their fill, they make their exit in a 

 different direction, if possible, from that by which 

 they entered; in the meanwhile the outsiders gradu- 

 ally and evenly approach, and the ring is narrowed 

 by a steady progressive movement of the whole. A 

 batch of fresh-comers never attempt to force their 

 way among those which have previously arrived, but 

 remain quietly on the outside of the ring until their 

 turn comes." 



We had good sport with guinea-fowl along the 

 Maritsani and Setlagoli rivers until well into the 

 winter season, when the grass became thinner and 

 more parched, the covert more scanty, and game 

 generally wilder. The guinea-fowl, always pretty 

 alert, then became excessively wild, and, catching 

 sight of us in the open veldt, would run almost as 



