76 NATURE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



it is manifest that they are a highly prolific species. 

 The nest is nothing more than a shallow depression 

 in the ground, and the number of eggs vary from a 

 dozen to twenty. The colour is a creamy buff, very 

 minutely speckled. 



Instances are not uncommon where the young are 

 reared from a setting of wild eggs placed under a 

 hen. But it is well known that the roosting habits 

 of the youngsters are as great a trouble to the foster- 

 mother as are young ducks reared under a hen, 

 when they first take to water. Some friends of 

 mine in British Bechuanaland, while out shooting 

 one day, captured a number of wild chicks not long 

 hatched. These were safely brought to the home- 

 stead, and subsequently reared. 



C. J. Andersson, however, mentions that he had 

 never known an instance of wild guinea-fowl thus 

 domesticated rearing a brood of their own. This is 

 a curious circumstance, if properly established ; and 

 I should much like to hear if any South African 

 colonist can point to a case in refutation. 



In addition to the South African guinea-fowl of 

 which I have been writing {Numida cornuta) — a 

 much handsomer bird than its tame congener — other 

 species are found in South-East Africa and along 

 the Zambesi — viz. the Numicla cristata of Pallas 

 (also found in West Africa), first discovered by M. 

 Verreaux, and the Zambesi guinea-fowl (JVumida 



