NATURAL HISTORY 311 



beyond the boundaries of which he seldom goes, finding an 

 ample hving in picking and steahng the grain, and seldom 

 turning his fancy to the soft-bill fare of the black weaver. 



Another tenant whose livehhood depends on the farms 

 and clearings is the bush-fowl, or francolin. But he has an 

 anno}^ng habit of hiding himself away in the impenetrable 

 fish-cane that walls in the farm on nearly every side, and 

 from which he emerges only in the early morning and evening 

 when the land lies quiet. Before dayhght comes the fran- 

 colin may be heard uttering his call, a loud " kik-kik-kurru " 

 repeated several times ; and then, as if he felt he had per- 

 formed his office in heralding the dawn, he becomes suddenly 

 silent. 



There is also a reed -warbler [Calamocichla alfredi) inhabi- 

 ting the fish-cane, and equally difficult to catch a glimpse of. 

 It is locally distributed and generally found going in pairs. 

 When disturbed this bird gives forth a fewhquid notes, " churr 

 — churr — chirrup, chirrup," that is all, and strain your eyes 

 as you may you will seldom " spot " him ; but he is there 

 all the same, for ever chmbing as he threads a way through 

 the thick cane. Only a rustle, perhaps, as he brushes past a 

 dry leaf tells you that he is passing. Before the dew has left 

 the corn-blades he sings his fitful httle song, or on a day of 

 roUing clouds, when the sun goes in and out, the sudden 

 warm flood of sunHght through the depth of his retreat will 

 draw from him a few notes of approval. 



Away in the corner of the fresh-cleared ground that runs 

 into the woodland, you may be lucky and surprise the 

 elegant little chat-thrush (ErytJiropygia), conspicuous with 

 its black-and-white check markings on wings and tail as it 



