GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



be seen skulking along at great speed with their heads carried 

 low and taking advantage of every atom of cover. Hen 

 birds are often difficult to flush and as a rule lie closely. On 

 rising they only give a croak, but I consider they should 

 be spared as much as possible, and, as the sexes are so 

 different in colour, it is quite an easy matter to distinguish 

 between them. Some Knorhaan I examined had their crops 

 filled with tiny grasshoppers, and others with young locusts 

 in the " voetganger " stage. Their food consists sometimes 

 of young succulent leaves, such as clover and trefoils, and 

 soft grasses with the addition of any insects they can collect, 

 such as white ants (termites), beetles, etc. ; but although they 

 are often shot in mealie and other grain fields, I have never 

 heard of grain being found inside them, and I feel sure they 

 are birds of great benefit to the farmer. 



The cock birds are very fond of getting up on to the 

 tops of the small ant-heaps with which the veldt abounds, 

 and they like to use these both as watch-towers and as places 

 on which to sun themselves. 



Knorhaan are sometimes very good-eating, but as a 

 rule are rather tough and strong in flavour. They require to 

 be well hung and very carefully cooked. The meat is dark 

 and apt to be dry, but it makes a good addition to game- 

 stew. They should always be skinned before cooking. 



Eggs sent to me from Cape Colony were indistinguishable 

 from those of 0. afroides. 



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