Practical Bird-Keeping.


REVIEW.



345



GAME BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. *


The second part of this book, which we have previously

noticed in our pages is now to hand, and fully bears out the

promise of the former part. It deals with twelve species of

Francolin and four species of Quail, all of which are figured in

a series of excellent coloured plates drawn by Sergeant C. G.

Davies. The notes given under each species are clear and con¬

cise, so that no sportsman, be he ornithologist or not, should find

any difficulty in identifying any bird lie may get. The author

seems rather doubtful as to the proper use of trinomials. He

uses them, quite correctly in our opinion, when dealing with the

two races of the Red-necked Francolin, but treats the Orange

River and Buthkoger’s Francolins as distinct species. This

technical error, however, does not in any way detract from the

practical utility of the book.



PRACTICAL BIRD-KEEPING.


XX.—CRANES.


By R. Cosgrave.


The various accounts written of Cranes do not give much

practical advice to the amateur who seeks help with regard to the

management of these most satisfactory aviary birds.


In the first place, my advice is not to purchase a cripple

at any price. See that the birds are sound and healthy, do not

trouble if the plumage is rough, that comes all right at the first

moult. Most dealers tell us that all Cranes must have fish ; that

is by no means necessary, as I have tried to show from time

to time. When you get a fresh acquisition, by all means give

it a little fish, but decrease the quantity daily for a week or two,

finally dropping it altogether. Only in one case is it essential

to give a little fish occasionally, namely, to the Asiatic or White

Crane (Gras leucogeranus ), for it is the most aquatic of all the

family and an expert fisherman. Feed on good wheat, barley,



* The Game Birds and Water Fowl of South Africa, Part II., by Major Boyd Horsburgh,

with coloured plates by Sergeant C. G. Daviks, to be completed in four parts.

London ; Withf.rby & Co. 21/- net.



