582 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
sort, and is of a much deeper colour, with the white spots larger 
and more conspicuous. They are good layers, and rear their young 
much in the same way as our pheasants do. If the female bird is 
startled she flies off and leaves her young ones, who at once disperse 
in every direction, and hide so cunningly amongst the grass and 
bushes that they are seldom found; and the dear little creatures 
will remain for any length of time in their hiding-places until they 
are called together again by the shrill note of the parent bird. In 
the Fish River valley they roost upon the willow branches that 
project over the large holes of water, out of the reach of wild-cats. 
Sir Walter Currie has upwards of a hundred of these beautiful 
birds upon his property (Oatlands) at Grahamstown: they are 
thorough-bred South African ones, with dark wings. I will try 
and get you a skin of one somewhere. As I have friends in the 
Fish River, where they are numerous, I will ask some of them to 
get me a skin.—M. HE. B.” 
Near East London, Mr. Rickard tells us it is not common, but 
one specimen was caught close to the beach. Captain Trevelyan 
records it from Kingwilliamstown, and Mr. Ayres writes:— 
‘“« These birds are abundant in some of the upper districts of Natal; 
they are gregarious, and are generally found amongst scrubby bush 
on the borders of streams and rivers. They run with exceeding 
swiftness, and in open ground a person on’ foot would stand but a 
poor chance of running them up. When in cover they lie very close 
indeed, and require a good dog to find them ; when found they will 
frequently fly up mto the lower boughs of any convenient bush or 
tree. They are naturally very tame, and easily domesticated, and 
may be found thus at any farmsteads. In some instances I am 
informed that they come regularly to feed with the poultry. In 
their wild state they feed much upon berries, the roots of various 
grasses, and so forth. They are excellent eating; and a good cock 
will weigh from three pounds and a quarter to three pounds and a 
half.”” 
Majors Butler and Feilden and Captain Reid write :—“‘ Though 
not obtained in the Newcastle district, this fine bird occurs in 
considerable numbers in places, as at Estcourt, Ladysmith, etc.” 
Mr. Ayres states that :—“ These Guinea-fowls are plentiful along 
the banks of the Rhinoster River, on the Free State side of the 
Vaal River.” Mr. T. E. Buckley found it very common from the 
