12 



THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



must be neglected in the pursuit of game in every 

 part of the world, and more particularly so in Africa, 

 I handed my swarthy attendant my shot gun, and 

 relieved him of my rifle. This course I took for 

 the reason that at this hour, with a little judicious 

 management, guinea fowl, when perched, can easily 

 be stalked to within fifty yards, and their size makes 

 them as large a target as an ordinary " Hielander's " 

 capacious bonnet. But there is another reason for 

 substituting ball for shot, and a very good one too 

 the guinea fowl will carry away such a dusting of 

 No. 6 or 5 shot as would knock the best rocketer 

 that you ever looked at, into an inanimate body. 



Thus Zulu and Donna and self crept forward, 

 not with that care that either of the party would 

 have taken if approaching a hartebeest or gemsbok, 

 but with prudence sufficient to keep our flapping 

 garments out of sight, and the keen and blood- 

 thirsty glance of our eyes undistinguishable. 



Like the American wood grouse, this bird is not 

 much alarmed at the report of a gun ; the same 

 victim will often stand several shots without shifting 

 its position, and many members of the same family 

 can be killed in succession when perched together, 



