90 THE SHIKARI 



Karoo we had a couple or so of cross-bred greyhounds 

 and some good fast ponies, and enjoyed many a 

 morning's coursing. 



Some of the most exciting runs were, however, on 

 the small antelope and the springbuck, and although 

 quite a number of the former were captured, often 

 after runs of two or three miles, only on very rare 

 occasions did we succeed in pulling down a spring- 

 buck. 



If the hunter has a pony which will stand shots being 

 fired from its back, bustard, knorhaan, etc., will the 

 more readily be secured : for when sighting intruders 

 these birds have a habit of lying flat on the ground, 

 and if circled in slowly decreasing circles they can 

 be approached well within shot ; where often, if on 

 foot, and however manoeuvred, the game will rise long 

 before the shooter is anywhere near. 



Partridges, francolin, tinamou, etc., can also be shot 

 this way over dogs, especially where the grass is long 

 and, if on foot, shooting would be anything but easy, 

 or the birds not seen at all. 



There are also the plovers, the waders, quail, and 

 many other furred and feathered beasts that can all 

 be numbered as small game, and each in their season 

 or country provide the hunter with both a varied shoot- 

 ing trip and a varied game list. 



In fact, the small game ranks in its way as high 

 as the big game, and the beginner who is primarily 

 out for trophies of the larger game animals should 



