GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



These birds are perfectly easy to keep in captivity, and 

 given a suitable aviary that is not overcrowded, they are 

 easy to breed. 



Harlequins frequent exactly the same sort of land as Cape 

 Quail, and the bag after a shoot will usually contain a pro- 

 portion of each species. I have shot a good many Cape Quail 

 near Bloemfontein, but have never met with the Harlequin 

 there. 



The males of this species vary much in bulk and size, and 

 this is especially noticeable in living specimens. I had a dozen 

 or more males brought to me in one consignment, and some 

 of them apparently were almost a third larger than the others. 

 This I think is partly due to age and partly due to the fact 

 that some birds carry their feathers tightly pressed to their 

 bodies, and others carry them loosely and consequently look 

 larger. 



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