chap. ix. GAME BIKDS. 415 



prefer running into the nearest cover, and then squatting; 

 and when once on the wing, they fly straight and strong, 

 carrying away a heavy shot, and if not killed dead, they 

 give an immense amount of trouble by the way in which 

 they run and hide, more than two-thirds of those winged 

 escaping when there is not a retriever at hand. When 

 feeding about sunrise and sunset they utter a harsh cry, 

 which renders it easy to find them, though little more 

 than a chance shot will be got unless the sportsman be 

 accompanied by a dog, while five or six brace will not be 

 unusual if he is. It is utterly useless to go after them 

 during the heat of the day, as they then retire into the 

 shadiest and most impenetrable thicket they can find, 

 where it is impossible to follow them. The moment the 

 dog points, one should work up to them as rapidly as 

 possible, so as to force them to flush, and should it be in 

 a clump of trees, the lower branches ought to be watched, 

 as they have a habit of hopping on to them out of reach of 

 the dog, and composedly sitting there watching it. Their 

 habits, like those of all francolins, much resemble those of 

 the partridge, or, perhaps, even more so, those of the bird 

 after which they are sometimes called, — the pheasant, to 

 which, however, they bear no other resemblance. 



There are two kinds of guinea-fowl found on the East 

 coast, and, as they are mentioned by Layard in his cata- 

 logue of South- African birds, it is to be presumed that 

 they are widely distributed. The first and common 

 variety I shall not notice, as it is well known in this 

 country; but the other (Numida cristata) is rare even in 

 Africa. It is an extremely handsome bird, with a top-knot 

 of black feathers, dark plumage mottled with blue spots, 



