PREFACE. 



In this volume I have endeavoured to give descriptions of the 

 Game-Birds and Water-Fowl found within South African hmits — that 

 is to say, south of a Une drawn through the Zambesi River from east 

 to west. 



I trust that in all cases the illustrations will be sufficient to enable 

 the sportsman readily to identify anj^ Game-Bird he may shoot. It 

 must be remembered, however, that immature birds often differ very 

 much from those in adult plumage ; I regret it was not possible to 

 figure the birds in every stage. 



With regard to the habits of many species, I am greatly indebted 

 to Serg. C. G. Davies, Cape Mounted Riflemen, whose excellent 

 field-work has been of the greatest help to me. All notes referring 

 to Pondoland and Griqualand have been communicated to me 

 by him. 



My thanks are also due to Dr. J. W. B. Gunning, Director of the 

 Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, and to Mr. Peringuey, Director of the 

 Cape Town Museum, for the loan of many skins otherwise almost 

 unobtainable, which were used by Sergeant Davies to illustrate the 

 work. 



Much valuable information has been obtained from the pages of 

 the Journal of the South African Ornithologists' Union, whose energetic 

 Editor (Mr. A. K. Haagner) has done so much to further the study 

 of ornithology in South Africa. 



Without their ready assistance, so wiUingly given, the labour of 

 bringing out this work would have been more than doubled. 



