320 KLOOF AND KARROO. 



the Otis atra of Linnaeus, or Eupodotis afra of 

 Gmelin. The name knorhaan, given to it by the 

 Dutch, literally signifying scolding cock, aptly 

 describes it, for this is one of the noisiest, 

 most provoking of birds. Its harsh discordant 

 chattering " craak " completely disturbs the veldt 

 in its immediate vicinity, and it is further a great 

 runner. In spite of all this, the black koorhaan is 

 a fine sporting bird, and when you know its little 

 eccentricities and can master your impatience, 

 affords really good sport, for it is exceedingly 

 common upon every karroo of the Colony. It is 

 of a brownish black colour, streaked with rufous. It 

 has a white stripe from the eye to the base of 

 the head, and a collar marking on the back of the 

 neck, also of white, and there are distinctive white 

 markings upon the wings. Here is its summary by 

 Peter Kolben (circa 1704) : "A bird peculiar to the 

 Cape countries is called the knorcock, the female 

 knorhen. These serve like sentinels to the other 

 fowls by a loud noise they make on seeing a man, 

 which resembles the word ' crack,' and which they 

 repeat very clamorously ... is about the size of a 

 hen." This bustard, as Kolben further notices, is 

 not a great flyer, and if flushed very soon goes down 

 again, when it watches its pursuer with the greatest 

 pertinacity. The best plan to work its downfall is 

 to approach it from different directions, when its 

 attention is distracted from one gunner to the other. 

 The vaal or grey koorhaan (Otis vigorsii) is of a 

 greyish red colour, mottled with black and dark 

 brown. The head is very slightly crested, and the 

 bird has a peculiarly beautiful pinkish gloss upon its 

 plumage, which fades after death. In size it much 



