GAME-BIRDS OP SOUTH AFRICA 



She does all the courting and looking after the smaller male, 

 which in his turn is entirely responsible for the incubation 

 of the eggs and bringing up of the young. As soon as the 

 first clutch of eggs is laid the female leaves the male and 

 pairs with another, until she has laid her full complement 

 of eggs. 



In captivity there have never been enough males to provide 

 sufficient mates for the hen of any one species, but I do not 

 think it probable that a Button-Quail would lay more than 

 a dozen eggs in one season. 



Sclater writes in the Fauna of South Africa that it is gener- 

 ally solitary, although two may occasionally be seen together. 

 It is found on grassy plains or among the reeds of dried-up 

 " vleis" ; when flushed it flies a short distance, quickly settles 

 down again and then makes off at a run ; it feeds on seeds 

 and insects. The eggs in the South African Museum are very 

 pointed at one end, of a yellowish-grey colour, very thickly 

 speckled with spots and blotches of a yellowish and darker 

 brown ; they measure .90 to .96 by .75 to .80 in. 



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