GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



front of the dogs on the kopje and the others keeping behind, 

 but both guns on a level lower than the dogs. When the 

 birds are flushed they usually fly down hill and by adopting 

 this plan some really sporting shots can often be obtained, 

 and one reaUy high " curly " bird is worth ten shot out of a 

 mealie field. 



These Francolins are very common near Vryburg and right 

 into the Kalahari Desert, and I have shot them in many places 

 where they could hardly have had a drink for weeks, although 

 doubtless juicy berries and roots were sufficient for their 

 needs. 



They thrive well in captivity and I have seen them come 

 to feed with the poultry at a Boer's farm where they were 

 protected and not shot at. 



Their cry, usually uttered at dawn and evening, is clear 

 and ringing ; it is an unmistakeable call sounding like the 

 two words " Killy-keelie," " Killy-keelie," " Killy-killeelie ; " 

 it is sometimes uttered when the covey gets scattered. 



The chief enemies of these Francolins are the various 

 meercats, especially the red meercat {Cynictis peniciUaia), 

 wild-cats of various sorts, jackals, hawks, and snakes. The 

 Secretary-Bird is a terrible foe to the young broods. From 

 the stomach of one which I shot, I removed no less than nine 

 chicks of this species which must have been at least ten days 

 old. It is often a matter of wonder to me how game-birds 

 in South Africa manage to rear their broods at all. 



The eggs measure about 1.5 by 1.1 in., and are dark cafe- 

 nu-lait colour speckled with brown. They are of the usual 

 peg-top shape common to most game-birds. , 



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