in Zulu/and, with Notes on its Birds. 417 



as Dr. Livingstone noted when he said that " the screaming 

 of the Francolin proclaims man to be near." Though it is a 

 wary bird^ it may be shot by remaining secreted near its 

 haunts in the evening when it comes out to feed. When 

 it comes near it makes a curious low cry, wliich is misleading, 

 as it sounds as if it proceeded from a distance, and if the 

 watcher then betrays his presence he loses his chance of 

 bagging his game. This bird is called " Tuquali " by the 

 Kafirs, and it consumes a considerable quantity of their grain. 



The common Partridge that frequents the open grass-land 

 is FrancoJinus subtorquatus. It becomes very tame in the 

 winter season, even coming into the verandah of the house 

 and picking up crumbs. We have obtained their eggs, 

 which are pure white, laid in the long grass. This Partridge 

 measures 10 inches, being 3 inches shorter than the preceding 

 species. 



Leaving this place, we crossed the Black Umfolosi at its 

 drift, which is low at this season, but swift and treacherous 

 after rains. After rest and coffee on its far banks, we 

 journeyed on through a country covered with small trees to a 

 store on the Ivuna, and early next day ascended to the high 

 lands of the Nongoma district. Here we saw several Koran 

 {Otis afro), but they seemed wary and kept at a distance. 

 The shadows beginning to fall, we outspanned and spent the 

 night on this open veldt. Our way continued over bare 

 country, until, descending to a lower level, we soon came to 

 a halt at the Church of England Station, superintended by 

 the veteran missionary Mr. Robertson. Beyond this there 

 was no regular road, and it was difficult to keep to the 

 track; but our driver, saying that he was acquainted with 

 the country, took us down a very steep hill, where we had 

 considerable difficulty in preventing the cart from capsizing. 

 After proceeding for some distance along a winding valley 

 over broken and rough ground, the man confessed that he 

 had lost his way, and we had to make our way back as best 

 we could, climbing an almost perpendicular hill. If the 

 little oxen had not been sure-footed and the chain strong, 

 the cart and its contents would have been dashed to pieces 



