GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



They are double-brooded, raising one brood in the spring 

 and one in the autumn. Broods have been found in East 

 Griqualand in April, It is easy to tell the birds that have 

 young or eggs, as they have a way of drawing you away 

 from the vicinity by pretending they are wounded and 

 cannot fly, flapping along the surface of the water in a 

 helpless manner until you are some distance from their 

 treasures, when they rise and make swiftly off. 



They have very much the habits of the European Mallard, 

 haunting marshes and lakes and avoiding running water. The 

 voice of the female resembles that of the Mallard female ; 

 the note of the male is also similar to that of the male 

 Mallard, but rather deeper and louder in tone. 



They are often found in fairly large flocks except when 

 breeding, when of course they are in pairs. When breeding 

 three or four amorous males will often chase a female round 

 and round high up in the air. 



They soon get tame when not much molested, but if 

 frequently shot at they circle round once or twice, and 

 then clear right out, and will probably not return for a 

 day or so. 



When the grain crops are ripe, they flight out in the 

 evening like Mallard, feed, and return in the morning to 

 sleep, wash and rest. A little careful observation will soon 

 show the lines of the flight, but it is very necessary that the 

 gunner should be well hidden, and not move until the 

 birds are well over and in shot. 



They require fairly heavy shot (No. 4 is best), and fly 

 strongly and fast. They dive and hide so well, that a winged 

 bird that has fallen in water is generally a lost one. 



I sent a pair of these birds home to the Zoological Society 

 of London three years ago, and one of them is still alive 



128 



