GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



birds I saw in captivity that had fuU use of their wings 

 certainly did so, and Reichenow also states that they have 

 this habit in the wild state. 



It has a clear whistling cry and is often kept in collections 

 of ornamental water-fowl both in England and on the 

 Continent. It is a peaceful Kttle bird in captivity, but 

 often succumbs to hard frost, and reqiures protection ia 

 severe weather. 



Mr. C. F. M. Swyimerton writes : " I have found these 

 ducks exceedingly plentiful on the pools between Chibabava 

 and Mangunde (Gazaland) in pairs or in parties of from a 

 dozen upwards. They have two whistling notes, or more 

 rarely three, frequently uttered by the whole flock together 

 as it flies along, sometimes in more or less wedge-formation, 

 sometimes not. They were easy to shoot, for when flushed 

 they would circle backwards and forwards two or three times 

 over the swamp, and seldom went more than a few hundred 

 yards before again descending. One of the stomachs exa- 

 mined contained a smaU larva and grit, and in both crop 

 and stomach were large quantities of a small black seed." 



There is no record of eggs having been taken in Africa, but 

 eggs from Madagascar in the British Museum are glossy and 

 cream-coloured, and measure about 2.0 by 1.5 in. 



120 



