48 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



artificially to replace the numbers destroyed. In the 

 latter, the ostriches are farmed and treated just like other 

 valuable domestic animals. Their plumes are carefully 

 clipped at the proper season with no discomfort whatever 

 to the bird, and the old stumps afterwards fall, or are 

 eased out. The ordinary process of moulting is in fact 

 merely assisted. Had ostrich farming not been taken 

 up half a century or so ago, there is no doubt that ostriches 

 would long ago have ceased to exist in South Africa, and 

 thus a great and profitable industry would not have 

 existed at the present day. Perhaps in the future the 

 farming of other plumage birds may be adopted on 

 similar successful arid humane lines, and thus both trade 

 and birds may benefit. At present it is very like a case 

 of " killing the goose that lays the golden eggs " or of a 

 man who, living on his capital, will wake up one morning 

 to find his last penny is gone. 



THE CROWNED LAPWING, sometimes called the " scream- 

 ing plover " and familiarly known in South Africa as 

 Kiewitje, is a familiar figure almost everywhere in the 

 veld. Though sometimes shot, it can hardly be classed 

 as a game bird. It is about the size of an ordinary plover 

 with black and white plumage, and associates either in 

 pairs or in small flocks, according to the season of the 

 year. It is an extremely noisy bird, and is possessed of 

 a spirit of permanent unrest, which prompts it to fly 

 about uttering its loud and grating cry, often by night 

 as well as by day. 



To the hunter the crowned lapwing is often a very 

 great nuisance. Should he be trying to approach game 

 quietly, a couple of these birds will very likely get up 

 close in front of him and fly away with loud cries of 

 warning and alarm ; but they will not, like well-regulated 

 birds, then depart and leave him alone. On the con- 



