GAME-BIEDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



curious harsh note at dawn and dusk. I have often watched 

 them drink in the evenings and roost and then call away for 

 some time, just as cock pheasants do in England. 



When it can, it feeds on any grain obtainable from the 

 ripened crops, but otherwise its food is the usual mixed diet 

 of a gallinaceous bird, i.e. bulbs, seeds, berries and insects. 



The natives and colonists often find this species a nuisance 

 to young crops, and are generally glad to have it killed ; never- 

 theless it does some good by destroying locusts. 



It is a great runner, but sometimes gives good sport, 

 especially if the guns can get near thick cover and then have 

 the birds driven ; this can often be done about 7 or 8 o'clock 

 in the morning when the birds are well out in the young crops 

 feeding, and under these circumstances I have seen them 

 come quite high and fairly fast. 



They are dry and indiflferent-eating, unless weU hung 

 and cooked with great care. 



From a description of a nest found by Ayres, on the 

 Shanghai River, we find that the eggs are a pinkish-cream 

 colour, finely speckled with chalky-white and measure about 

 IJ in. long, and are of the usual game-bird shape. 



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