tlie Birds of PliiUpstoion. 5 



used to inhabit some holes iu the side o£ a well on the out- 

 skirts oi: the village and raised breeds there. 



The Secretarj-Bird (^Serpentarius secretarius) is not iin- 

 connnon. A pair will generally be found to keep more or 

 less to the same locality. It" one is shot the survivor wi'l 

 soon pick up another mate, and if both are destroyed it will 

 not be long before another pair has taken their place. I saw 

 this happen at a certain farm in the district where a pair of 

 Secretarj'-Birds, after having lived in peace and security for 

 several years, came to an untimel\»end through feeding on 

 the carcases of lambs which had been poisoned and laid on 

 the " veld " for jackals. Ojiinions seem to be very much 

 divided as to whether the Secretary-Bird should be protected 

 or not, the views of both sides generally running to extremes. 

 The question is a difficult one to decide. In spite of all that 

 may be said in its favour as an exterminator of snakes, the 

 fact remains that it is very partial to leverets and young- 

 partridges. But in so far as the Philipstown district is 

 concerned, I think it may be given the benefit of the doubt, 

 for partridges are practically non-existent on the flats, and 

 hares are regarded as vermin. In country where game is 

 plentiful and snakes scarce, I certainly think there are some 

 grounds for the views held by those who maintain that the 

 Secretary-Bird does more harm than good^ but I hope that 

 many years will elapse before its quaint figure ceases to 

 ornament the dry stretches of the Karoo. This bird breeds 

 in the district. It does not seem to be fond of taking lono- 

 flights^ but it can undoubtedly soar well if so minded. I 

 recall once, on a bright clear day, seeing one mount in spirals 

 until com})letely lost to sight. 



The Order Anseres, as nuiy be expected, is not too well 

 represented. The Egyptian Goose (Alopocheti cegyptiacus), 

 South African Shelduck [Casarca cana), and Black Buck 

 (A7ias sparsa) are all permanent residents. All three species 

 are usually found in pairs ; this, however, is not always the 

 case. Occasionally flights of Siielduck numbering 12 or 14 

 individuals may be seen. These probal)ly comprise the 

 parent birds and a brood of young which have had the good 



