xxx GAME BIRDS FOR SPORT AND POT 301 



with birds which were sitting side by side in hundreds 

 of thousands. As we emerged the whole ground 

 seemed to rise with one roar and plunge towards the 

 stream. The morning will ever remain to me a very 

 vivid recollection. 



The bridled sandgrouse is smaller than the last- 

 named, to which its habitat appears somewhat similar ; 

 though I do not know that this variety exists in Juba- 

 land, and it also extends further towards the north. 



I have had twenty minutes or so very pretty sport 

 with these birds at Larsamis and also at Merille in the 

 desert country towards Marsabit. They appeared 

 suddenly in thousands just as it was getting dark, and 

 in the dusk were very difficult to account for. 



The chestnut-vented sandgrouse is much larger than 

 the other varieties, being about as large as an English 

 partridge. According to Mr. F. J. Jackson, by far the 

 most eminent ornithologist who has ever been in the 

 Protectorate, the species range from Kilima-njaro 

 northwards to Nairobi. I recall pretty sport with this 

 bird on the Tana river in 1906. 



The close-barred sandgrouse is very rare south 

 of the Turkwell river, where it is common. 



In addition to the splendid sport they afford the 

 sandgrouse is excellent for the table, though, from its 

 dryness, apt to pall after a while. Native porters, 

 more especially Wanyamwezi, eat them with avidity. 

 It is unfortunate that, for the most part, their favourite 

 haunts are rather remote from civilisation. 



The Pigeon, though not technically a game bird, is, 

 like his cousin in England, capable of providing 

 excellent sport. There are a considerable number of 

 varieties, but the two which are usually bagged are the 

 green pigeon and the large spotted variety with a 



