THE WILD FAUNA OF THE EMPIBE 



35 



2. Bushpartridge. 



4. Sandgrouse (Namaqua). 



6. Bush khoraan. 



8. Ostrich. 



' Feathered. 



' As regards birds, the difference, now that native snaring and 

 trapping is stopped, is nothing short of marvellous ; f rancolin of 

 all kinds and guinea-fowl have increased five-fold ; the past season 

 has also been advantageous in an especial degree, as the long grass 

 has impeded the operations of the birds of prey. The wild 

 ostriches have increased enormously, and are now seen in parts of 

 the district where they had not been known for years. 



'So far as one can judge, game birds exist in the following 

 order : 



1. Noisy francolin. 



3. Bushpheasant. 



5. Guinea-fowl (Blue-headed) 



7. Dikkop. 



9. Crested bustard. 



' Camivora. 



' There is no perceptible increase in the number of lions found 

 in the Beserve and a considerable decrease in wild dogs, hyasnas, 

 and jackals ; civets and wild cats are trapped by the rangers and 

 police. 



' As last year, impala and, in a lesser degree, waterbuck form 

 the principal victims of the lions. The wild dogs hunt impala 

 almost exclusively, and this buck, with the duiker and bushbuck, 

 is also the prey of the leopard and cheetah. In spite of these 

 drawbacks, however, impala are increasing at a great rate. 



' Hunting. 



'(a) Whites. —I do not know of any white men having 

 succeeded during the past year in penetrating the Beserve for 

 shooting purposes, but a constant and vigilant surveillance is 

 necessary, especially along the southern boundary, _ where the 

 Crocodile Kiver separates a great deal of game of all kinds from a 

 scattered population of white men, many of whom would seize 

 the first opportunity given them of violating the game laws. 



' (b) Natives.— There have been a few minor cases of natives 

 hunting, principally from Portuguese territory. At the present 

 time we are trying to trace a hunting party who have been killing 

 game in the centre of the Beserve lately (this being the most 

 lonely part). These parties, however, are afraid to make any 

 stay and probably, having shot one animal, leave hurriedly with 

 the meat. 



' Prospectors and Treasure-hunters. 



' We have been lately subjected to a good deal of importunity 

 from people insisting on going into the Beserve for various private 

 ends— some to inspect a supposed reef, others to view alleged 

 beacons on concessions put up or granted, according to their 

 statements, during the period before the war, but of which there 

 are no records. 



' During the summer, Captain de Bortodano, on behalf of the 



