GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



African Veldt would be a dull place indeed if the noisy Knor- 

 haan was non-existent, and I look upon this as one of the 

 most interesting birds to be found there. 



A good pointer, or better stUl two, are absolutely 

 essential to making a bag of Knorhaan. It requires a dog 

 that thoroughly knows his business too, as I have often 

 known Knorhaan to run half a mile or more before they 

 rose. When a hen bird rises she sometimes gives a low 

 croak, but when a cock bird gets up he makes the most 

 extraordinary din, a terrific shout of " Crra-a-ak-de Wet- 

 de Wet-de Wet-de Wet " and so on. 



I shaU not forget the remark of a certain yeoman during 

 the South African War, when we were trying to catch General 

 De Wet by the usual night march. The yeoman's horse 

 almost trod on a sleeping cock Knorhaan which fairly made 

 the echoes ring with his uproar, and the rider said bitterly, 

 " How can we catch these fellows when the very birds keep 

 shouting out their names all night ? " 



I cannot help thinking that the unfortunate Knorhaan 

 is badly treated. They breed slowly, laying but two eggs, 

 and have many enemies, not to mention veldt fires, storms, 

 etc. Furthermore the Knorhaan is an exceedingly easy bird 

 to shoot and falls to a blow that a Spur-winged Goose 

 or other tough bird would not flinch at, so that I trust 

 a little mercy will be extended and only cocks killed. 



They respond very quickly, however, to a little good 

 treatment. I frequently shot on two huge farms which 

 adjoined each other, and we made a rule that hens were never 

 killed. The difference at the end of two seasons between 

 those and other, farms in the same district was most marked. 

 Of course what ruins all shooting in South Africa is the fact 

 that game-birds are allowed to be sold for the market. 



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