GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



or amongst the reeds, and will then often allow themselves 

 to be passed without tak ng to flight, trusting to escape 

 observation by keeping stiU. 



Sergt. Davies writes me that they are easy to shoot as they 

 rise, but have a most annoying habit of flying low over the 

 surface of the water if the reeds are high, untU weU out of 

 shot. 



They feed on seeds of water-plants and on insects, but when 

 the native crops are ripe they are often shot with their crops 

 full of grain, and at this season they get very fat. 



Near Potchefstroom they breed in August and September, 

 but the broods are never big, owing no doubt to the number 

 of monitor lizards, water-mongooses, and other vermin that 

 frequent their breeding-haunts. 



The Black Duck is easily tamed and bears captivity well, 

 but it was not until 1911 that the first bird reached Europe 

 alive, this example forming part of the King's South African 

 collection. 



Mr. L. E. Taylor in the Journal of the S. African Ornith- 

 ological Union for December, 1906, gives a photograph of a 

 nest of this bird taken in July which contained eleven 

 eggs, and was concealed in rushes and built on the ground 

 about two feet above the water. They resembled those of 

 Aims tindulata, and measured about 2.5 by 1.75 in. 



131 



