BLACK KNORHAAN 



be seen skulking along at great speed with their heads carried 



low and taking advantage of every atom of cover. Hen 



birds are often difficult to flush and as a rule lie closely. On 



rising they only give a croak, but I consider they should 



be spared as much as possible, and, as the sexes are so 



different in colour, it is quite an easy matter to distinguish 



between them. Some Knorhaan I examined had their crops 



fiUed with tiny grasshoppers, and others with young locusts 



in the " voetganger " stage. Their food consists sometimes 



of young succulent leaves, such as clover and trefoUs, and 



soft grasses with the addition of any insects they can coUect, 



such as white ants (termites), beetles, etc. ; but although they 



are often shot in meahe and other grain fields, I have never 



heard of grain being found inside them, and I feel sure they 



are birds of great benefit to the farmer. 



The cock birds are very fond of getting up on to the 

 tops of the small ant-heaps with which the veldt abounds, 

 and they like to use these both as watch-towers and as places 

 on which to sun themselves. 



Knorhaan are sometimes very good-eating, but as 

 a rule are rather tough and strong in flavour. They require to 

 be weU hung and very carefully cooked. The meat is dark 

 and apt to be dry, but it makes a good addition to game- 

 stew. They should always be skinned before cooking. 



Eggs sent to me from Cape Colony were indistinguish- 

 able from those of 0. afroides. 



23 



