8 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



times mistaken at a distance, and by a novice, for the 

 roar of a lion. Millais, in " A Breath from the Veld," 

 devotes an interesting paragraph to this matter. 



BUSTARDS 



This family is represented in south Africa by eleven 

 species. They eat insects, berries, and seeds, and lay 

 two eggs to a clutch. 



The Giant Bustard. This fine bird, which attain? to 

 a length of about five feet, a wing spread of eight feet and 

 a half, and a total weight of forty pounds, is met with 

 through east, central, and southern Africa. It favours 

 rather open country, covered with scattered bush. Its 

 flight, though heavy, is rapid, and it can make excellent 

 use of its legs also. It is generally seen singly or in pairs ; 

 sometimes a female with her latest offspring. It is an 

 extremely wary bird, and seldom permits approach 

 within fifty or sixty yards, even where unaccustomed 

 to persecution. Mounted hunters sometimes adopt 

 the plan of riding narrowing rings round it, which 

 method seems occasionally to confuse and keep it on the 

 ground. 



The species appears locally migratory, and I have 

 noticed it in particular areas only at certain times of 

 year. 



The Stanley Bustard. This, the second largest of 

 the genus, is partial to open country and hilly uplands, 

 and is met with in the high country of east and south 

 Africa. 



Ludwig's Bustard is another fine bird, measuring 

 over three feet in length. It is migratory in habit, 

 and it's environment is that of the last species. 



There are eight species of lesser bustards, locally 

 known as knorhaan, described from South Africa, all 



