OTIS VIGORSI. 



YAAL KNORHAAN. 



(Plate 6.) 



Otis vigorsii. Smith, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1830, p. 11 ; Eeichenow, Vogel 

 Afrikas, I, p. 248 (1900-01) ; Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., m, p. 357 

 (1905) ; Sclater & Stark, Birds of S. Afr., iv, p. 296 (1906). 



Otis scolopacea, Sharpe's ed. Layard Birds of S. Afr., p. 637 (1875-84) ; 

 Nicolls & Eglington, Sportsman in S. Afr., p. 117 (1892). 



Heterotetrax vigorsi, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxni, p. 296 (1894) ; 

 Woodward, Natal Birds, p. 175 (1899). 



Local Name. " Dik-Kop Knorhaan " of the Dutch, also apphed 

 to the Blue and Barrow's Knorhaan. 



Dbsckiption. The bird figured is a male. Although I consider the 

 plate a very good one, I think it is almost impossible to convey 

 in a picture any idea of the beautiful pink bloom that colours 

 this bird in life. Unfortunately in the dried skins the colour 

 quickly fades. Length about 24 in. 



Distribution. The Vaal Knorhaan is found in open, rolling grass 

 veldt in the Cape Colony, in upper Natal, in the Orange River 

 Colony, and in certain parts of the Transvaal. 



I have killed it near Bloemfontein and also near Potchefstroom. 

 According to Mr. Bryden, it extends into Bechuanaland. 



Vaal Knorhaan are, I think, the noisiest of a very noisy 

 family. It is impossible to stay in a district inhabited by 

 them, and fail to be aware of their presence : the tremendous 

 " Crack-crack, crack-crack-ka^oi« " added to other startling 

 nasal noises, soon call the attention of the sportsman to 

 them. I have usually found Vaal Knorhaan in coveys up 

 to five or six in number. They seem to prefer the drier, 



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