PHASES OF NATURE AROUND PRETORIA. 75 



rarely absent when game is brought in. Bucks of 

 various species, the "jumping hare " (Pedetes capensis\ 

 the Monitor ( Varanus niloticus), and skins of Leopards 

 and the smaller cats I have also seen for sale. It is 

 rare, however, to find a bird in good condition, as they 

 are usually badly shot and with the plumage ruined. 

 It is somewhat strange that the Boer farmers do not 

 show more energy in bringing game to the Pretorian 

 market, for it is certainly remunerative. During my 

 stay a resident went on a shooting-expedition to the 

 wood-bush about 90 miles from Pretoria, and on his 

 return sold the game to a butcher for 27. Amongst 

 the spoil were two bucks, two small paauws, ducks, 

 partridges, and blue bustards, which at this price 

 averaged 5s. per head all round. They were then 

 retailed, blue bustards at 65. each, partridges and ducks 

 65. per brace, paauws from 3 Os. to 2. From this man I 

 secured a very fine specimen of Otis ccerulescens. All 

 specimens, both living and dead, fetch fair prices in 

 Pretoria, and a pair of healthy young Quaggas (Equus 

 quagga) were brought in and sold during my stay for 55. 

 We occasionally obtained good sport among the so- 

 called Partridges (Francolins), when the grass had died 

 down in the early part of winter. The commonest 

 species met with in the neighbourhood of Pretoria was 

 Francolinus levaillantii, sometimes in good coveys, but 

 never far away from water. These birds lie uncommonly 

 close and can be easily passed. A Kafir boy once 

 pointed out a grassy spot, not more than a yard or two 

 square, where he assured us he had seen a bird settle 

 down. We thoroughly, as we thought, threshed this 

 spot, walking apparently over it again and again, and 

 yet, subsequently, the boy with more perseverance and 

 a desire to prove himself right, turned it up from under 

 a tuft of tall dried grass that we had just missed 

 treading down. Later in the afternoon of the same day, 

 a single member of a covey which I had disturbed 

 squatted in a small hole in the path about 80 yards in 

 front of me, and depressing its back level with the 

 earth, exhibited a good instance of the protection 



