GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



of feather after the first moult, when different kinds of arrow- 

 shaped black marks and bars are much in evidence beneath. The 

 length is about 14 in. 



DiSTRiBTTTiON. Generally distributed through Cape Colony and the 

 upper and more elevated parts of Natal and locally through the 

 Orange Eiver Colony and the southern Transvaal. 



Mr. Millar states that in Natal this bird is known as the 

 Berg Grey-wing from the fact that it is found only in the 

 vicinity of the Drakensberg. When flushed they are usually 

 on the brow of the hill, and aU rising together with a shrill, 

 squeaky alarm, dive quickly round the corner, and are 

 out of sight before a shot can be fired ; if, however, they 

 can be marked down, they will rise singly and then afford 

 good sport. 



Sergt. C. G. Davies writes that Grey-wings are common 

 in most of the higher districts of the Cape Colony, and that 

 they are usually found in coveys of from five to fifteen or 

 more, and frequent the hill-sides, especially when they have 

 a terrace-hke formation. 



I have shot them in various parts of the Orange River 

 Colony and have never found them far from kopjes. Owing 

 to their strong flight and the nature of the ground in which 

 they are found, they are most satisfactory birds to shoot and 

 give sometimes extremely sporting shots, especially when 

 they are flushed on a hill well above the sportsman, and come 

 tearing over his head at aU sorts of angles, each bird screaming 

 his loudest. They are far noisier when they rise than the 

 Orange River Francolin, and are not nearly such powerful 

 runners. Near Bloemfontein I have often noticed the cock- 

 birds calling in the mornings and evenings from the tops 

 of stone walls. 



They feed early and late on small bulbs, seeds and insects, 



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